Upcoming

Meetings

October 15: ACCSP Recreational Technical Committee and MRIP Wave Meeting

October 19: Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Subcommittee Check-In

October 22: Research Coordination Webinar on Characterizing patterns and trends in recreational fishing/boating in the Northeast US

November 9-12: ASMFC 2026 Annual Meeting

November 16: Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Subcommittee Check-In

November 19: Maryland Water Monitoring Council 32nd Annual Conference

December 7: Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Subcommittee Check-In

December 7-11: SAFMC December Meeting

December 8-10: NEFMC December Meeting

December 14-17: MAFMC December Meeting

January 26-28: ASMFC 2027 Winter Meeting

Jobs



F&W Research Scientist 3 -- NJ DEP (Oxford, NJ)

(Due: October 15)

Administrative Specialist I (Reporting Assistant) -- MD DNR (Anne Arundel, MD)

(Due: October 15)

Assistant Director of Research -- VIMS (Gloucester Point, VA)

(Due: October 20)

Assistant Chief for Statewide Programs (Freshwater Fisheries) -- SC DNR (Lexington Cnty., SC)

(Due: October 23)

F&W Biologist Trainee -- NJ DEP (Port Republic, NJ)

(Due: October 26)


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

(Due: November 1)

Fisheries Aging Lab Specialist -- VMRC (Hampton, VA)

(Due: November 1)

Bycatch Analyst -- Azura Consulting LLC (Woods Hole, MA or remote)

(Open until filled)

Fisheries Liaison Officer -- AIS (multiple locations)

(Open until filled)

DNR Law Enforcement -- GA DNR (Regional)

(Open until filled)

Public Comment

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)

October 19: MD DNR seeks public comment on byctach in striped bass gill nets. Comments may be made through October 19.

(Find more here)

October 30: GA DNR CRD seeks public comment on proposed reef, migratory fish endorsement rules. Comments may be made through October 30.

(Find more here)

November 3: A stakeholder-inclusive Regional Fund Administrator seeks public comment on Draft Regional Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensation Framework. Comments may be made through November 3.

(Find more here)

November 12: NOAA Fisheries seeks public comments on Framework Adjustment 7 to the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be made through November 12.

(Find more here)

ACCSP: Modernizing Fisheries Data Through the Successful Rollout and Expansion of the SAFIS eDR Redesign

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) officially launched its highly anticipated SAFIS eDR (electronic dealer reporting) redesign on January 1, 2026. Developed throughout 2025 in close coordination with ACCSP partners, this modernization effort marks a major leap forward in commercial landings data collection.

Throughout the development phase, partner agencies were kept thoroughly informed, maintaining a collaborative environment that ensured the system was tailored to real-world needs. Testing of the system was conducted by actual dealers in addition to partner agency staff, an approach that was instrumental in refining the user experience. While a transition of this scale naturally brought minor issues to address, the official rollout has been deemed a resounding success. The redesigned system ultimately delivers more consistent, higher-quality data through flexible user interfaces, establishing a highly expandable foundation for future fisheries science and management.

Find more information here.

ME DMR: Winter Bottom Trawl Survey of Maine Research Array Wind Energy Area to Begin Week of January 11, 2027

The winter bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area is scheduled to begin the week of January 11, 2027, and run through February 28, 2027. If inclement weather limits sampling days during the aforementioned window for the winter survey, sampling may be extended until March 12, 2027. This timeframe is tentative - survey notices will be posted here on DMR's website. 

This survey will be conducted during up to nine days within the above timeframe. The exact dates will be weather dependent. Operations will be conducted during daylight hours. Survey locations will be the same as the previous year’s surveys.

Find more information here.

NJ DEP: Restoring Coastal Habitat at Lighthouse Center in Upper Barnegat Bay Wildlife Management Area

This Ecosystem Restoration Project will employ a combination of restoration techniques to improve salt marsh health, wildlife habitat, and coastal resilience. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish & Wildlife, through its Bureau of Land Management Coastal Program, is working with The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resource Education Foundation of New Jersey, Ducks Unlimited, US Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program, NJDOT Office of Maritime Resources, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and academic partners to restore and improve coastal habitats at the Lighthouse Center in Waretown, Ocean County. Restoration planning was completed with support from Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund administered by NREF and Ducks Unlimited and implementation is funded through a 2022 Natural Climate Solutions grant from NJDEP to The Nature Conservancy with significant investments of funding from NJDOT Office of Maritime Resources.

Restoration efforts will address habitat degradation within the sites tidal wetland which resulted from historical land uses, altered drainage patterns, shoreline erosion and declining marsh elevations. Innovative restoration methods will be used in combination to help improve the marsh’s natural ability to drain, support native vegetation and withstand future coastal impacts.

Find more information here.

NYS DEC: Upcoming Annual 'I FISH NY' Fall Fishing Festival

The annual Fall Family Fishing and Children's Festival at Hempstead Lake State Park will be held Saturday, October 17. Sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) I FISH NY program and Freshwater Fisheries Unit, as well as the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“DEC is thrilled to welcome the public back to the Hempstead Lake Annual Family Fishing Festival," said DEC Regional Director Cathy Haas. "Whether fishing for pumpkins, pumpkinseed sunfish, or one of the freshly stocked brown or rainbow trout, this event offers families and friends the opportunity to get outside and experience the best of Long Island fishing.” 

“New Yorkers of all ages are invited to join us for the Fall Family Freshwater Fishing Festival and experience the joy of fishing,” said State Parks Long Island Regional Director George Gorman. “We encourage everyone attending the festival to take some time to explore the natural beauty of Hempstead Lake State Park and enjoy all that this wonderful park has to offer.” 

Find more information here.

NC DEQ: Cultch Planting Reef Program Releases Stakeholder Survey

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ Cultch Planting Program is asking for public input on nine prospective cultch planting sites for future projects to enhance oyster habitat. A Cultch Planting Survey can be found via this link and will be open until Nov. 23.

DMF is seeking participants from both the hand and mechanical wild oyster fishery, as well as from other commercial participants and recreational stakeholders to take the survey. The input will help staff consider commercial preferences and weigh potential impacts on other stakeholders before finalizing locations of future cultch planting operations. 

The Cultch Planting Program creates man-made oyster reefs to enhance habitat structure by deploying a thin layer (less than a foot) of small limestone rock, oyster shell or other suitable materials. This provides some elevation underwater and a hard, stable surface for oyster larvae to grow. These sites are then opened for future public harvest. Selection of the nine prospective sites involved extensive surveying to ensure sites did not include already existing shellfish assemblages or subaquatic vegetation.

Find more information here.