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Director's Declarations

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2025

8/27/28: Director's Declaration: Entry into Menhaden Episodic Event Set-Aside Fishery 
4/29/25: Director's Declaration: Extension of Seasonal Vessel Speed Limits 

2024

12/18/24: In-Season Adjustment to Reduce Period I Summer Flounder Trip Limits 

2023

11/27/23: Director's Declaration to Decrease 2024 Period I Summer Flounder Trip Limit 
7/10/23: Reduce Mobile Gear Trip Limits for Horseshoe Crabs 
7/10/2023: Increase Summertime Summer Flounder Trip Limits 
07/10/2023: Increase Smooth Dogfish Trip Limits 
05/07/2023: Vessel Speed Limit Rule Lifted for May 8 
05/07/2023: Fixed Gear Closure Lifted for May 8 
05/07/23: Area 1A Closed to Mobile Gear Fishing 
05/02/23: Effort Controls for Atlantic Sea Herring in Management Area 1A During Season 1 
05/01/23: Extension of Vessel Speed Limit in Cape Cod Bay 

2022

Open PDF file, 235.92 KB,  12/21/22: Increase to the 2023 Summer Flounder Commercial Period I Trip Limit (English, PDF 235.92 KB)
09/22/22: Commercial Summer Flounder In-Season Adjustment to Increase Trip Limit 
Open PDF file, 208.89 KB,  06/22/22:Notification of Entry into 2022 Episodic Event Set Aside Program for the Commercial Menhaden Fishery (English, PDF 208.89 KB)
Open PDF file, 295.48 KB,  6/14/22: Commercial Limited Access Menhaden Fishery Trip Limit Reduced to 25,000 Pounds (English, PDF 295.48 KB)
06/07/22: Declaration Extending Small Mesh Trawl Fishing Season for Squid 
Open PDF file, 246.48 KB,  4/29/2022: Seasonal Speed Limit Restriction Extension (English, PDF 246.48 KB)

2021

Open PDF file, 241.88 KB,  12/2/21: 2022 Scup Winter I Limits (English, PDF 241.88 KB)
09/23/21: Commercial Summer Flounder In-Season Adjustments 
08/23/21: Commercial Black Sea Bass In-Season Adjustments 
06/17/21: Notification of Entry into 2021 Episodic Event Set Aside Program for the Commercial Menhaden Fishery 
06/11/21: Director's Declaration to Reduce Limited Access Menhaden Trip Limit to 25,000 Pounds 
05/13/21: Director's Declaration to Rescind Seasonal Trap Gear Closure and Vessel Speed Restrictions 
Open PDF file, 197.87 KB,  4/30/21: Seasonal Speed Limit Restriction Extension (English, PDF 197.87 KB)
Open PDF file, 243.89 KB,  4/6/21: Commercial Period I Summer Flounder Trip Limit Reduction (English, PDF 243.89 KB)
03/24/21: Director's Declaration to Temporarily Lift April Groundfish Closure for 2021 

2020

Open PDF file, 277.61 KB,  12/11/20: Increase to the 2021 Summer Flounder Commercial Period I Trip Limit (English, PDF 277.61 KB)
Open PDF file, 241.85 KB,  12/11/20: 2021 Winter I Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 241.85 KB)
10/29/20: Declaration to Increase Summer Flounder Trip Limits  
09/29/20: Winter II Scup Possession Limit Declaration 
08/21/20: Director's Declaration to Make In-Season Adjustments to 2020 Commercial Fishing Limits for Striped Bass, Black Sea Bass, and Summer Flounder 
Open PDF file, 137.71 KB,  06/27/20: Director's Declaration to Reduce Commercial Menhaden Trip Limit to 25,000 lbs for Limited Entry Participants (English, PDF 137.71 KB)
04/30/20: Director's Declaration to Rescind Seasonal Fixed Gear Closure Extension 
04/27/20: Director's Declaration to Extend Seasonal Fixed Gear Closure in Cape Cod Bay 
04/27/20: Director's Declaration to Extend Seasonal Speed Limit Rule in Cape Cod Bay 
Open PDF file, 228.63 KB,  02/21/20: Director's Declaration to Increase the 2020 Period I Summer Flounder Trip Limit (English, PDF 228.63 KB)
Open PDF file, 215.96 KB,  2/21/20: Director's Declaration to Suspend April 2020 State-Waters Commercial Groundfish Closure (English, PDF 215.96 KB)
Open PDF file, 270.92 KB,  01/03/20: Director's Declaration of 2020 Winter I Scup Limits (English, PDF 270.92 KB)

2019

Open PDF file, 154.62 KB,  10/18/19: Director's Declaration to Establish 2019 Winter II Scup Limits (English, PDF 154.62 KB)
09/20/19: Director's Declaration to Adjust the 2019 Commercial Summer Flounder Fishing Limits 
Open PDF file, 156.3 KB,  09/05/19: Director's Declaration to Reduce Limited Entry Menhaden Trip Limit to 6,000 Pounds (English, PDF 156.3 KB)
Open PDF file, 152.15 KB,  8/16/19: Director's Declaration for In-season Adjustment to Commercial Summer Flounder Limits Effective 11/1/19 (English, PDF 152.15 KB)
Open PDF file, 151.55 KB,  08/15/19: Director's Declaration to Reduce Commercial Limited Access Menhaden Fishery Trip Limit to 6,000 lb (English, PDF 151.55 KB)
Open PDF file, 156.61 KB,  08/08/19: Director's Declaration to Reduce Commercial Menhaden Trip Limits to 25,000 lbs for Limited Entry Fishery Participants (English, PDF 156.61 KB)
Open PDF file, 158.52 KB,  06/07/19: Declaration to Extend Small Mesh Trawl Fishery for Squid (English, PDF 158.52 KB)
Open PDF file, 154.81 KB,  05/17/19: Declaration to Establish Management Area 1A Effort Controls for Sea Herring (English, PDF 154.81 KB)
Open PDF file, 154.73 KB,  05/14/19: Declaration to Establish 2019/2020 Spiny Dogfish Possession and Landing Limits (English, PDF 154.73 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.27 KB,  05/09/19: Declaration to Rescind Seasonal Trap Gear Closure and Speed Limit Restriction Extensions (English, PDF 155.27 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.61 KB,  05/06/19: Declaration to Extend Seasonal Large Whale Trap Gear Closure (English, PDF 155.61 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.01 KB,  05/06/19: Declaration to Extend Seasonal Speed Limit Restriction (English, PDF 155.01 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.54 KB,  04/26/19: Declaration to Extend Seasonal Large Whale Trap Gear Closure (English, PDF 155.54 KB)
Open PDF file, 154.93 KB,  04/26/19: Declaration to Extend Seasonal Speed Limit Restriction (English, PDF 154.93 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.01 KB,  03/26/2019: Declaration to Suspend April 2019 Groundfish Closure in MA Bay (English, PDF 155.01 KB)
Open PDF file, 154.18 KB,  12/28/18: Declaration to Establish 2019 Winter I Period Scup Possession and Landing Limits (English, PDF 154.18 KB)

2018

Open PDF file, 172.04 KB,  09/14/18: Declaration to Adjust Commercial Striped Bass Open Days (English, PDF 172.04 KB)
Open PDF file, 174.34 KB,  07/30/18: Declaration to Reduce Commercial Menhaden Trip Limit to 25,000 Pounds (English, PDF 174.34 KB)
Open PDF file, 92.42 KB,  04/30/18: Declaration to Set 2018/2019 Spiny Dogfish Trip Limits (English, PDF 92.42 KB)
Open PDF file, 77.63 KB,  12/20/17: Declaration to Establish 2018 Winter I Scup Limits (English, PDF 77.63 KB)

2017

Open PDF file, 132 KB,  10/13/17 Fishery Opening Notice: 2017 Commercial Tautog Fishery to Reopen (English, PDF 132 KB)
10/4/17: 2017 Winter II Commercial Scup Limits 
Open PDF file, 77.38 KB,  09/18/17: Declaration Adjusting Commercial Black Sea Bass Limits (English, PDF 77.38 KB)
Open PDF file, 77.02 KB,  09/13/17: Declaration to Reduce Commercial Menhaden Trip Limit to 6,000 Pounds (English, PDF 77.02 KB)
Open PDF file, 77.53 KB,  08/27/17: Temporary Surf Clam Dredge Closure Near in Western Cape Cod Bay (English, PDF 77.53 KB)
Open PDF file, 68.72 KB,  4/25/17 2017 Commercial Spiny Dogfish Trip Limit Set at 6,000 lbs (English, PDF 68.72 KB)
Open PDF file, 178.77 KB,  03/01/2017 Director's Declaration: Commercial Period I Summer Flounder Trip Limit Reduction (English, PDF 178.77 KB)

2016

Open PDF file, 118.81 KB,  12/30/2016 Director's Declaration: 2017 Winter I Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 118.81 KB)
Open PDF file, 67.56 KB,  09/29/2016 Director's Declaration: Commercial Menhaden Regulated Fishery Trip Limit Reduction (English, PDF 67.56 KB)
Open PDF file, 65.19 KB,  09/19/2016 Director's Declaration: Summer Period (May 1 - October 31) and Winter II Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 65.19 KB)
Open PDF file, 164.79 KB,  07/12/2016 Director's Declaration: Longfin Squid Possession Limit Adjustment (English, PDF 164.79 KB)
Open PDF file, 78.68 KB,  04/29/2016 Director's Declaration: 2016/2017 Commercial Spiny Dogfish Possession Limits (English, PDF 78.68 KB)

2015

Open PDF file, 64.22 KB,  12/21/2015 Director's Declaration: Winter I (January 1 - April 30) Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 64.22 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.89 KB,  10/10/2015 Director's Declaration: Days-Out in the Atlantic Sea Herring Management Area 1A Fishery for Trimester 3 (English, PDF 64.89 KB)
Open PDF file, 63.83 KB,  10/9/2015 Fishery Opening Notice: 2015 Commercial Fluke Fishery to Repopen (English, PDF 63.83 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.21 KB,  10/9/2015 Director's Declaration: Increasing the May - October Commercial Scup Possession Limits (English, PDF 64.21 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.17 KB,  10/9/2015 Director's Declaration: Winter II (November 1 - December 31) Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 64.17 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.48 KB,  9/10/15 Director's Declaration: Eliminating Closed Commercial Fishing Days in Summertime (May - October) Commercial Scup Fishery (English, PDF 64.48 KB)
Open PDF file, 67.58 KB,  7/29/15 Director's Declaration: Commercial Menhaden Regulated Fishery Trip Limit Reduction (English, PDF 67.58 KB)
Open PDF file, 128.92 KB,  6/4/15 Director's Declaration: Days-Out in the Atlantic Sea Herring Management Area 1A Fishery For Trimester 2 June 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015 (English, PDF 128.92 KB)
Open PDF file, 78.48 KB,  4/30/15 Director's Declaration of the 2015/2016 Spiny Dogfish Possession Limits (English, PDF 78.48 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.22 KB,  1/5/15 Director's Declaration: 2015 Winter I Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 60.22 KB)

2014

Open PDF file, 66.74 KB,  12/30/2014 Director's Declaration: Northern Shrimp Specification (English, PDF 66.74 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.86 KB,  10/8/14 Director's Declaration: Days-Out in the Atlantic Sea Herring Management Area 1A Fishery for the Period of October 10, 2014 - December 31, 2014 (English, PDF 60.86 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.16 KB,  10/2/14 Winter II Commercial Scup Limits (English, PDF 60.16 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.54 KB,  10/2/14 Increasing May-Oct Commercial Scup Possession Limits and Eliminating the Closed Commercial Fishing Days (English, PDF 60.54 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.67 KB,  9/5/14 2014/2015 Spiny Dogfish Possession Limits Increase (English, PDF 60.67 KB)
Open PDF file, 61.18 KB,  8/8/14 Interim Trip Limit: Longfin Squid Fishery (English, PDF 61.18 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.36 KB,  5/19/14 Director's Declaration of Days Out in the Atlantic Sea Herring Management Area 1A Fishery (English, PDF 60.36 KB)
Open PDF file, 60.4 KB,  4/30/14 Director's Declaration of the 2014/2015 Spiny Dogfish Possession Limits (English, PDF 60.4 KB)

2013

Open PDF file, 62.02 KB,  Director's Declaration of Adjustment: Scup Possession and Landing Limits for the November-December Winter II Fishery (English, PDF 62.02 KB)

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