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DMF Public Hearing Notices

Under the provisions of M.G.L. Ch 30A and pursuant to the authority found in M.G.L. Ch. 130 ss. 17A & 80, the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission schedule public hearings to accept comment on regulatory actions and proposed changes to 322 CMR. 

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2025 Notices

2/14/25: 2025 Omnibus Public Hearing Notice for Rule Changes Affecting Recreational and Commercial Fisheries  

2024 Notices

04/26/24: Public Hearing on Recreational Fishing Rules for 2024 Affecting Black Sea Bass, Scup, Summer Flounder, Cod, Haddock, and the Filleting of Striped Bass 
2/21/24: Public Hearing Notice on Proposals Affecting Commercial and Recreational Trap Fisheries 
02/04/24: Public Hearing Notice on Proposed 2024 Rule Changes to Commercial Fishing Regulations 

2023 Notices

09/13/23: Public Hearing on Recreational Cod and Haddock Limits 
05/24/23: Public Hearing Notice on Recreational Striped Bass Slot Limit Adjustment 
04/28/23: Public Hearing Notice on 2023 Recreational Scup and Black Sea Bass Limits 
03/31/23: Public Hearings on Commercial Fisheries for Menhaden, Horseshoe Crabs, Summer Flounder, and Groundfish 

2022 Notices

9/30/22: November 3 Public Hearing on Trap Fisheries, Mobile Gear Seasons, and Whelk Gauging 
9/30/22: November 1 Public Hearing on Mackerel, Recreational Tautog, Shortfin Mako, and Groundfish Maximum Retention 
08/05/22: Public Hearing and Comment Period for 2022 Recreational Cod and Haddock Limits 
04/29/22: June 6, 2022 Public Hearing on Recreational Fishing Limits 
2/18/22: March 16, 2022 Public Hearing on Commercial Summer Flounder, Black Sea Bass, and Spiny Dogfish Limits and Regulatory Housekeeping 
2/18/22: March 14, 2022 Public Hearing on a Commercial Menhaden and Bluefish Limits, Commercial Striped Bass Permitting, and Regulatory Housekeeping 
Open PDF file, 192.31 KB,  1/3/22: Federal Informational Webinars on Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding - Public Hearings on Proposed Commercial and Recreational Measures to Follow (English, PDF 192.31 KB)

2021 Notices

12/9/21: Notice of January 6, 2022 Virtual Public Hearing and Public Comment Period: Draft Regulatory Proposals Affecting Commercial Gillnet and Groundfish Fishing, Squid Trawling, and Winter Period Scup Limits 
12/9/21: Notice of January 5, 2022 Virtual Public Hearing and Public Comment Period: Draft Regulatory Amendments Affecting Buoy Line Marking for Trap Gear, Commercial Lobster and Crab Trap Tag Implementation Deadlines, and Seasonal Student Lobster Permits 
04/16/21: Public Hearing Notice on New Buoy Line Marking Rules for Commercial Lobster and Crab Trap Fishery 
03/05/21: Public Hearing Notice on Commercial Fishing Regulations Affecting Striped Bass, Menhaden, Black Sea Bass Pots, Bluefin Tuna Purse Seining and Mobile Gear 
02/04/21: Public Hearing Notice on 2021 Recreational Fishing Rules Affecting Circle Hooks and Striped Bass, Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock Limits, and Blue Crab Trapping 

2020 Notices

11/13/20: Public Hearing on New Protected Species Regulations Affecting Trap and Gillnet Fishing 
Open PDF file, 243.05 KB,  07/10/20: Public Hearing on Closure of Cape Cod Canal to Commercial Striped Bass Fishing (English, PDF 243.05 KB)
Open PDF file, 293.56 KB,  03/13/20: 2020 Winter Omnibus Public Hearing Notice Updated to Extend Public Comment Period (English, PDF 293.56 KB)
Open PDF file, 294.89 KB,  02/07/20: Winter Omnibus Public Hearing (English, PDF 294.89 KB)

2019 Notices

Open PDF file, 156.04 KB,  09/25/19: Public Hearing on New Lobster Processing Rules Scheduled for October 17, 2019 (English, PDF 156.04 KB)
Open PDF file, 156.66 KB,  08/09/19: Public Hearing Scheduled on Various Proposals Affecting Tautog, Coastal Sharks, Winter Fluke, Lobsters, Ocean Quahogs and Permits (English, PDF 156.66 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.28 KB,  05/16/2019: Recreational Fishing Limits for Cod, Haddock, Scup and Black Sea Bass (English, PDF 155.28 KB)
Open PDF file, 160.54 KB,  01/28/19: 2019 Omnibus Regulatory Adjustments (English, PDF 160.54 KB)

2018 Notices

Open PDF file, 154.21 KB,  12/28/18: Public Hearing Notice Shellfish Regulations (English, PDF 154.21 KB)
Open PDF file, 155.92 KB,  12/14/18: Public Hearing Notice Right Whale Protections and Whelk Gauge Size (English, PDF 155.92 KB)
Open PDF file, 153.84 KB,  11/30/18 Public Hearing Notice State-Waters Multispecies Groundfish (English, PDF 153.84 KB)
Open PDF file, 151.17 KB,  09/18/18: Revised Public Hearing Notice on Mobile Gear Fishing Rules (English, PDF 151.17 KB)
Open PDF file, 5.95 MB,  08/22/18: Public Hearing Notice on Proposed Experimental Kelp Aquaculture Array in Buzzards Bay (English, PDF 5.95 MB)
Open PDF file, 130.18 KB,  05/18/18: ASMFC Public Hearing & Comment Period on American Eel Management (English, PDF 130.18 KB)
Open PDF file, 72.19 KB,  05/04/18: Public Hearing Notice - 2018 Recreational Fishing Limits (English, PDF 72.19 KB)
Open PDF file, 82.7 KB,  03/05/18 Public Hearing: 2018 Fishing Limit Adjustments (English, PDF 82.7 KB)

2017 Notices

Open PDF file, 147.07 KB,  12/28/17: ASMFC Public Hearings & Comment Period on Recreational Black Sea Bass (English, PDF 147.07 KB)
Open PDF file, 131.42 KB,  08/28/2017: Public Hearing on a Commercial Tautog Fishery Control Date and Permitting (English, PDF 131.42 KB)
Open PDF file, 69.71 KB,  08/11/2017: Horseshoe Shoals Kelp Aquaculture Public Hearing and Comment Period (English, PDF 69.71 KB)
Open PDF file, 75.86 KB,  07/27/2017: Public Hearing Notice for 2017 Recreational GOM Cod and Haddock Limits (English, PDF 75.86 KB)
Open PDF file, 174.74 KB,  06/12/2017 ASMFC Public Hearing on Tautog Management: June 21 (English, PDF 174.74 KB)
Open PDF file, 71.78 KB,  05/18/2017 Public Hearing Notice: Commercial Black Sea Bass and Recreational Black Sea Bass and Fluke (English, PDF 71.78 KB)
Open PDF file, 83.28 KB,  03/02/2017 ASMFC Public Hearing on Commercial Scup Managment: March 23, 2017 (English, PDF 83.28 KB)
Open PDF file, 179.63 KB,  02/27/2017 ASMFC Public Hearing on American Lobster Management: March 23, 2017 (English, PDF 179.63 KB)
Open PDF file, 91.37 KB,  01/13/2017 Public Hearing Notice: Four Public Hearings Scheduled to Address Numerous Fishery Proposals (English, PDF 91.37 KB)

2016 Notices

Open PDF file, 133.91 KB,  12/27/2016 ASMFC Public Hearing on Summer Flounder Recreational Management: January 11, 2017 (English, PDF 133.91 KB)
Open PDF file, 381.58 KB,  08/16/2016: Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Special Permit for Experimental Kelp Longline Culture in Coastal Waters off Manchester, MA Thursday September 8th at 6 pm at DMF_s Annisquam River Facility 30 Emerson Ave. Gloucester, MA (English, PDF 381.58 KB)
Open PDF file, 65.69 KB,  06/10/2016: Public Hearing Notice: Aquaculture, Mobile Gear Vessel Replacement, Surf Clams, Whelk, Commercial Scup, American Eels, Trap Tags, Sink Gillnets, Regulation Organization (English, PDF 65.69 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.07 KB,  05/06/2016 Public Hearing Notice: Recreational Fishing Limits for Black Sea Bass and Gulf of Maine (GOM) Cod and Haddock; Harwich Recreational Fishing Reef Restricted Area; and Sea Herring Spawning Closure Adjustments (English, PDF 64.07 KB)
Open PDF file, 60 KB,  02/24/2016 Public Hearing Notice: Harwich Recreational Fishing Reef Project and Closing Reef Site and Adjacent Buffer Zone to Commercial Fishing (English, PDF 60 KB)
Open PDF file, 69.68 KB,  02/17/2016 Reviced Public Hearing Notice: Vibrio Management Public Hearings and Public Comment Period (English, PDF 69.68 KB)

2015 Notices

Open PDF file, 66.18 KB,  12/30/2015 Notice of Public Hearings and Public Comment Period: Rules Affecting the Commercial and Recreational Lobster and Pot Fisheries (English, PDF 66.18 KB)
Open PDF file, 62.44 KB,  07/01/2015 Notice of Public Hearings and Public Comment Period: Emergency Regulations Requiring a White Shark Special Permit to Conduct Certain Activities around White Sharks (English, PDF 62.44 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.18 KB,  04/27/2015 Notice of Public Hearings and Public Comment Period Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock and Recreational Black Sea Bass (English, PDF 64.18 KB)

2014 Notices

Open PDF file, 70.2 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearing: Fluke Recreational Management - January 08, 2015 (English, PDF 70.2 KB)
Open PDF file, 81.73 KB,  12/23/14 Notice of Public Hearings and Public Comment Period (English, PDF 81.73 KB)
Open PDF file, 31.31 KB,  Notice of Public Hearing: Proposal to Increase Recreational and Commercial Lobster Permit Fees (English, PDF 31.31 KB)
Open PDF file, 73.4 KB,  Notice of Joint ASMFC/MAFMC Scoping Hearing: Summer Flounder - October 2 (English, PDF 73.4 KB)
Open PDF file, 70.19 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearing: Cancer Crab - September 24 (English, PDF 70.19 KB)
Open PDF file, 73.05 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearings: Striped Bass - September 2, 3, & 4 (English, PDF 73.05 KB)
Open PDF file, 71.14 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearings: Spiny Dogfish - September 2 and 3, 2014 (English, PDF 71.14 KB)
Open PDF file, 73.95 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings: 2014 Recreational Gulf of Maine Cod Limits Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 5:00 PM (English, PDF 73.95 KB)
Open PDF file, 65.95 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings Scheduled for June 18, 2014 (English, PDF 65.95 KB)
Open PDF file, 64.57 KB,  2/4/14 Notice of Public Hearing Scheduled for February 18, 2014 (English, PDF 64.57 KB)
Open PDF file, 65.42 KB,  1/27/14 Notice of Public Hearings Scheduled for February 18 and 19, 2014 (English, PDF 65.42 KB)
Open PDF file, 79.05 KB,  1/17/14 Notice of Public Hearings Scheduled for 2/11/14 and 2/12/14 (English, PDF 79.05 KB)

2010 Notices

Open PDF file, 240.62 KB,  Notice of public hearings - December 8 and 15, 2010 (English, PDF 240.62 KB)
Open PDF file, 226.91 KB,  Notice of public hearings - September 27 and 28, 2010 (English, PDF 226.91 KB)
Open PDF file, 233.87 KB,  Notice of Massachusetts ASMFC public hearing - August 16, 2010 (English, PDF 233.87 KB)
Open PDF file, 190.35 KB,  Notice of public hearing - May 10, 2010 (English, PDF 190.35 KB)
Open PDF file, 162.81 KB,  Notice of public hearings - January 19, 2010 (English, PDF 162.81 KB)
Open PDF file, 208.47 KB,  Notice of ASMFC public hearing - January 8th, 2010 (English, PDF 208.47 KB)

2013 Notices

Open PDF file, 64.02 KB,  11/21/13 Notice of Public Hearings Scheduled for December 19, 2013 (English, PDF 64.02 KB)
Open PDF file, 78.54 KB,  06/27/2013 Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period to Accept Comments on Recently Enacted Emergency Regulations (English, PDF 78.54 KB)
Open PDF file, 62.43 KB,  5/13/13 Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period to Accept Comments on Recently Enacted Emergency Regulations (English, PDF 62.43 KB)
Open PDF file, 62.8 KB,  4/12/13 Notice of Public Hearing Scheduled for May 16, 2013 - Striped Bass Management (English, PDF 62.8 KB)
Open PDF file, 77.85 KB,  1/14/13 Notice of Public Hearings Scheudled for February 13, 2013 (English, PDF 77.85 KB)
Open PDF file, 154.88 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings - January 17, 2013 (English, PDF 154.88 KB)

2012 Notices

Open PDF file, 167.31 KB,  Notice of ASMFC/DMF Public Hearing - October 16, 2012 (English, PDF 167.31 KB)
Open PDF file, 166.72 KB,  Notice of ASMFC/DMF Public Hearing - October 4, 2012 (English, PDF 166.72 KB)
Open PDF file, 169.78 KB,  Notice of ASMFC/DMF Public Hearing - October 4, 2012 (English, PDF 169.78 KB)
Open PDF file, 167.16 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearing - June 21, 2012 (English, PDF 167.16 KB)
Open PDF file, 98.23 KB,  Notice of ASMFC Public Hearing - June 5, 2012 (English, PDF 98.23 KB)
Open PDF file, 235.39 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings - June 5 and 7, 2012 (English, PDF 235.39 KB)
Open PDF file, 156.55 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings - January 10 and 11, 2012 (English, PDF 156.55 KB)

2011 Notices

Open PDF file, 226.9 KB,  Notice of Public Hearings - November 29 and 30, 2011 (English, PDF 226.9 KB)
Open PDF file, 167.66 KB,  Scoping Meetings - October 4th and 5th , 2011 (English, PDF 167.66 KB)
Open PDF file, 159.71 KB,  Open Meeting for Public Market Commission's Sub-Committee on Fish and Seafood Scheduled for August 31, 2011 (English, PDF 159.71 KB)
Open PDF file, 167.01 KB,  Notice of public hearings - May 31, 2011 (English, PDF 167.01 KB)
Open PDF file, 221.04 KB,  Notice of public meetings - March 15 and 16, 2011 (English, PDF 221.04 KB)
Open PDF file, 170.45 KB,  Notice of Massachusetts ASMFC public hearing - February 10, 2011 (English, PDF 170.45 KB)
Open PDF file, 163.54 KB,  Notice of public hearing - January 13, 2011 (English, PDF 163.54 KB)
Open PDF file, 163.95 KB,  Notice of NEFMC/MAFMC scoping hearings - January 4, 10, and 11, 2011 (English, PDF 163.95 KB)

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