- Division of Marine Fisheries
From the Director’s Desk, “Red-Listing” of Lobster: Misguided and Counterproductive
Read Dan McKiernan's (Director of DMF) response to California-based Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch “red-listing” of American lobster caught in the U.S. and Canada.
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Protected Species Update
Read this article for the latest updates regarding protected species.
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Cod Research in Massachusetts and the Release of a New StoryMap
By the time Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, the most prominent feature along the coast had already been known as Cape Cod for a generation. Cod fishing was North America’s first industry and is still a central part of our heritage. Read on to learn about DMF's ongoing cod research.
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The Various Aspects of DMF’s Resource Assessment Project
DMF’s Resource Assessment Project is responsible for two long-term, fishery-independent surveys conducted in Massachusetts coastal waters. Read on to learn more about the surveys DMF conducts.
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Good News from the Striped Bass Assessment Update, but Management will Proceed Cautiously
A new stock assessment has just been completed for striped bass and the results were presented to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board. Read for the results of the stock assessment.
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Creature Feature: Razor Clams, Ensis leei
Razor clams are long thin bivalve shellfish that resemble old-fashioned straight-edge razors for shaving. Read on to learn all about them!
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Offshore Wind Update
As DMF’s role in offshore wind continues to evolve, the agency is committed to engaging fishery stakeholders in all phases of industry development. Read on for the full update on offshore wind as it relates to Massachusetts and DMF.
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Public Access Update: The Salem Willows Park Pier, A New Fishing Pier For the Next Hundred Years!
Next fall the construction of a new Salem Willows Park Pier will begin and, if all goes well, new memories will be made there by the summer of 2024! Read on to learn more about the project.
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DMF and MEP Meet with International Delegation to Discuss Fisheries Management and Enforcement
Recently, the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) hosted a delegation from the Philippines as part of a project titled “Improving Monitoring and Management of Marine Ecosystems. The delegation spent four days in eastern Massachusetts and met with DMF and MEP.
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DMF Returns to Cat Cove Marine Laboratory in Salem
Changes are afoot for the Division’s work locations within the state. The most recent development is the addition of a third principal field station at the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory in Salem.
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Electronic Vessel Trackers for Lobster Vessels Coming in 2023
All commercial Lobster Permit holders with a federal lobster trap permit will be installing a vessel tracking device beginning this spring. Read on to learn more about the new requirement.
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2023 Quota Outlook
The 2023 Quota Outlook is here. Please note that the quotas described herein are subject to change. Check the Division’s quota monitoring webpage for updates on commercial quotas and landings.
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Adjudicatory Proceedings
The latest update from the Adjudicatory Program at DMF.
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Regulatory Updates
During the period of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 the
following regulatory changes were enacted by DMF after public
hearings and Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission approval, or
by the Director under his declaratory and emergency authorities.
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