Upcoming

Meetings

September 8: ACCSP Operations Committee and Advisory Panel Preliminary Ranking Exercise Meeting

September 10: ACCSP Operations Committee and Advisory Panel Preliminary Ranking Exercise Meeting

September 14-18: SAFMC September Meeting

September 18: MD DNR Coastal Commercial Fisheries Forum

September 18: MD DNR Coastal Recreational Fisheries Forum

September 15-17: NEFMC September Meeting

September 21: ASMFC Atlantic herring Area 1A Days Out Meeting

September 22: ACCSP Operations and Advisory Committee Joint Meeting

September 23: ASMFC/ MAFMC Recreational Sector Separation Workshop

October 6-8: MAFMC October Meeting

October 14: ACCSP Recreational Technical Committee and MRIP Wave Meeting

October 15: ACCSP Recreational Technical Committee and MRIP Wave Meeting

November 9-12: ASMFC 2026 Annual Meeting

November 19: Maryland Water Monitoring Council 32nd Annual Conference

December 7-11: SAFMC December Meeting

December 14-17: MAFMC December Meeting

Jobs

Associate Research Scientist (Fisheries Dependent Monitoring) -- FL FWC (St. Petersburg, FL)

(Due: September 8)

Assistant Quota Monitoring Biologist -- NC DEQ (Carteret County, NC)

(Due: September 8)

Natural Resources Operations Chief (DEM) -- RI DEM (Providence, RI)

(Due: September 8)

Fisheries Technician -- PA FBC (State College, PA)

(Due: September 9)

Environmental Scientist III (Aquatic Resources) -- DE DNREC (Dover, DE)

(Due: September 11)

Senior Research Scientists -- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (East Boothbay, ME)

(Due: November 1)

At-sea Survey Technician (Level I-III) -- AIS to support SEFIS (Beaufort, NC)

(Open until filled)

Reef Fish and Shrimp Fisheries Observer -- AIS to support SEFCS (North Myrtle Beach, SC)

(Open until filled)

SEAMAP Trawl Survey Scientist (Levels II-III) -- Lynker (Pascagoula, MS)

(Open until filled)

SEAMAP Plankton Survey Scientist (Levels II-III) -- Lynker (Pasacagoula, MS)

(Open until filled)

SEFIS Survey Support Scientist (Levels I-III) -- Lynker (Beaufort, NC)

(Open until filled)

Restoration Ecologist -- Biohabitats (Raleigh, NC)

(Open until filled)

South Shore and Cape Cod MRIP Recreational Fisheries Technician -- MA DMF (New Bedford, MA)

(Open until filled)

NY Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC for NYS DEC (Kings Park, NY)

(Open until filled)

DE Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC for DE DNREC (Dover, DE)

(Open until filled)

CT Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC for CT DEEP (Old Lyme, CT)

(Open until filled)

Fisheries Liaison Officer -- AIS (multiple locations)

(Open until filled)

Marine Police Officer -- VMRC (multiple locations)

(Open until filled)

DNR Law Enforcement -- GA DNR (Regional)

(Open until filled)

Public Comment

September 14: NOAA Fisheries seeks public comment on where to look for new Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. Comments may be made through September 14.

(Find more here)

October 9: ASMFC seeks public comment on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden to consider modifying the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap. Comments may be made through October 9.

(Find more here)

October 13: NOAA Fisheries seeks public comment on revisions to fishing gear regulations in Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries. Comments may be made through October 13.

(Find more here)

October 14: NOAA Fisheries seeks public comment on ropeless fishing from fishery participants and others with specialized knowledge on the potential voluntary use of ropeless fishing gear. Comments may be made through October 14.

(Find more here)

October 16: NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Analysis assessing potential modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Comments may be made through October 16.

(Find more here)

ASMFC: Atlantic Herring Area 1A Days Out Meeting Scheduled for September 21

Atlantic Herring Management Board members from the states of Maine, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will meet via webinar on September 21, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., to discuss Season 2 (October 1 – December 31) days out measures for the 2026 Area 1A fishery (inshore Gulf of Maine). Days out measures include consecutive landings days for Season 2. The webinar and call will occur on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Find more information here.

ASMFC: July/August Issue of Fisheries Focus Available Now

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has released its July/August issue of Fisheries Focus. The issue highlights the release of the Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum II for public comment, a species profile on spotted seatrout, and an ACCSP feature on modernizing fisheries data through the successful rollout and expansion of the SAFIS eDR Redesign. This issue of Fisheries Focus also includes a science article on recent happenings for the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Habitat Partnership, and fisheries management actions on cobia and scup.

Fisheries Focus is a great way to stay up to date with what is going on at the Commission and learn more about new initiatives happening across the Atlantic coast states. 

Find more information here.

NC DEQ: Reminding Recreational Fishermen to Report Flounder Harvest

Recreational flounder season starts tomorrow, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is reminding recreational fishermen that a new law requires them to report their harvest of flounder, as well as four other species.

Recreational fishermen must report their harvest of flounder, Striped Bass, Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout), Weakfish (gray trout) and Red Drum, either through an online Mandatory Harvest Reporting webform or an iPhone App. (Search for “NC DMF” in the Apple Store.) An Android App is not yet available. Recreational fishermen are not required to report fish they do not keep.

Find more information here.

PA FBC: Collaborative Strategy for Statewide Public Fishing and Boating Access Announced

On Thursday, August 13, 2026, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced a new, collaborative statewide public fishing and boating access strategy.

The strategy provides a clear blueprint for state agencies and their partner organizations to follow as they develop, plan, and enhance public access opportunities in their communities. Partners including heritage areas, watershed organizations, 501(c)3 nonprofit groups, local governments, and water trail managers, can use the tools available through this strategy by visiting the Pennsylvania Fishing and Boating Access Strategy page on the PFBC website.

Find more information here.

FL FWC: Bringing Aquaculture in the Classroom Through Partnership

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Aquaculture in the Classroom program is preparing for another year of bringing hands-on marine science education to students across Florida.

For more than two decades, FWC’s Marine Stock Enhancement Research and Division of Marine Fisheries Management has worked with teachers and school administrators to introduce students to aquaculture and Stock Enhancement Research (SER). Designed for students from fifth grade through college, the program introduces the basic principles of aquaculture and marine research and explains how stock enhancement supports Florida’s marine fisheries.

Find more information here.

GA DNR: St. Simons Island Angler Sets New State Record for Almaco Jack

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (CRD) has certified a new state saltwater game fish record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).

Chris A. Germano of St. Simons Island landed the record-setting fish April 4, 2026, while bottom fishing at R4, an offshore artificial reef. The Almaco Jack weighed 42 pounds, 15.36 ounces, surpassing the previous state record of 27 pounds, 8 ounces.

Find more information here.

NJ DEP: Input Wanted as Angler Data May Inform Future Regulations

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Fish & Wildlife and the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council have partnered to explore potential future summer flounder and black sea bass measures. Despite public interest, we were previously unable to explore regulation changes due to data limitations. We have now developed tools to expand data collection to make those explorations a reality! As the summer flounder and black sea bass seasons progress, please continue utilizing the Summer Flounder & Black Sea Bass Tally Form , a tool specifically designed for rapid entry of your catch and release information for these two important species.

Find more information here.

MD DNR: Somers Cove Marina Hosts National Hard Crab Derby

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites all to Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield for the 79th annual National Hard Crab Derby on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-6. This event, held by the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce and taking place on the state-owned marina, celebrates traditions of the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore; and highlights Crisfield’s history as the “Crab Capital of the World.”

This unique crab-themed event includes crab races, boat docking, crab cooking and picking contests, artisans, live entertainment, pageants, a parade, fireworks, a carnival, and more. 

Find more information here.

SAFMC: Bringing Ecosystem Information Into the Decision-Making Process

Fish live in a complex world of diverse habitats, tidal and seasonal cycles, predators and prey, and changing ocean conditions. Fishermen and managers know that information about the ecosystem matters to fish, but it has been challenging to figure out how to use it when making decisions. A new two-part Resilient Fisheries project funded by the South Atlantic Council looked across all U.S. Fishery Management Councils to see how ecosystem information is used in fishery decisions, and suggests practical ways for the South Atlantic Council to bring more ecosystem information into its processes.

The project’s takeaway isn’t a call for more data collection; it’s a call for better connections. Connections range from linking existing information about ocean conditions, food webs, and climate risk directly to specific management decisions, to building a structured process for turning ecosystem insight into action. Overall, the South Atlantic Council has a genuine opportunity to make fisheries management more resilient to a changing ocean, using tools already close at hand.

Find more information here.