All persons interested in submitting comments on the proposed regulations may do so in writing by the date indicated in the notice. Refer to the full notice for the mailing address for submitting comments. All comments received by the date indicated in the notice will be reviewed and considered.
Upcoming Public Hearings and Comment Periods
Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period - Draft Regulations to Establish a Framework to Regulate and Permit Removal, Possession, and Disposal of Fishing Gear Debris
Under the provisions of G.L. c. 30A, and pursuant to the authority found at G.L. c. 130 § 31 2, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is taking public comment on draft regulations at 322 CMR 4.01, 7.01, and 15.08 to establish a framework to authorize the removal and disposal of fishing gear debris from our coasts and waters. The proposed regulations: (1) authorize DMF and OLE to remove and dispose of any and all fishing gear debris; (2) enable any person to remove, possess, or dispose of fishing gear debris located above mean-low tide; (3) allow commercial mobile gear fishers to possess and dispose of fishing gear debris incidentally taken during lawful fishing operation, while maintaining the existing prohibition on injuring fishing gear; (4) provides DMF the discretion to permit entities and persons to remove, possess, and dispense of fishing gear debris below mean-low tide under certain specific circumstances that ensure the project is likely to be successful and will not affect intact fishing gear; and (5) reinforce municipal requirements that all aquaculture gear be sufficiently tagged and marked with information that makes the aquaculture gear identifiable to a permit holder so as to enable municipal authorities to address the recovery of derelict aquaculture gear.
DMF will accept written public comment through 5PM on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Please submit written comments to Director Daniel McKiernan by e-mail (marine.fish@mass.gov). Additionally, DMF will host a virtual public hearing on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 6PM via Zoom. You can register to attend this public hearing via this Zoom registration link.
For more information, please review these documents:
Notice of Public Hearing and Comment Period - Emergency Regulations to Limit Entry into Commercial Striped Bass Fishery, Establish the Striped Bass Permit Endorsement as Owner-Operator and Non-Transferable, and Update the Control Date
Under the provisions of G.L. c. 30A, and pursuant to the authority found at G.L. c. 130 §§ 2, 80, and 104, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is taking public comment on a series of emergency regulations to amend 322 CMR 6.07, 7.01, and 7.04 relevant to the permitting of the commercial striped bass fishery beginning in 2026. This includes: (1) establishing the striped bass regulated fishery permit endorsement as limited entry for 2026 and limiting issuance only to those who held the endorsement in 2024 or 2025; (2) requiring the named permit holder be present when commercial striped bass fishing is occurring under the authority of their endorsement; (3) making the endorsement non-transferable; and (4) updating the Control Date for the endorsement from June 14, 2022 to December 31, 2025.
DMF will accept written public comment through 5PM on Friday, December 12, 2025. Please submit written comments to Director Daniel McKiernan by e-mail (marine.fish@mass.gov). Additionally, DMF will host a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 6PM via Zoom. You can register to attend this public hearing via this Zoom registration link.
For more information, please view these documents: