Upcoming

Meetings

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

February 2-4: NEFMC February Meeting

Jobs



Habitat Management Biologist I -- NH FGD (Concord, NH)

(Due: November 4)

Marine Technician 1 -- GA DNR (Bryan Cnty., GA)

(Due: November 6)

Marine Fisheries Biologist (SEAMAP) -- NC DEQ (Beaufort Cnty., NC)

(Due: November 11)

Wildlife Biologist I (Marine Resources Division) -- SC DNR (Charleston Cnty., SC)

(Due: November 12)

Director, MD Sea Grant -- University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (College Park, MD)

(Due: November 15)

Fisheries Biologist 2 -- PA FBC (Newville, PA)

(Due: November 15)

Marine Resource Specialist -- ME DMR (West Boothbay Harbor, ME)

(Due: November 17)

Biologist II (Marine Resources Division) -- SC DNR (Charleston Cnty., SC)

(Due: November 25)

Research Operations Specialist III -- Cardinal Point Captains

(Open until filled)

Lieutenant Colonel, Mass. Environmental Police -- MA EEA MEP (Chelsea, MA)

(Open until filled)

Recreational Fisheries Data Analyst -- ASMFC, ACCSP (Arlington, VA)

(Open until filled)

Fisheries Liaison Officer -- AIS (multiple locations)

(Open until filled)

DNR Law Enforcement -- GA DNR (Regional)

(Open until filled)

Public Comment

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

(Find more here)

November 20: SC DNR seeks public comment on proposed ACE Basin NERR Management Plan. Comments may be made through Nov. 20.

(Find more here)

November 30: MD DNR seeks public comment on a Nuisance Species Pilot Program and Updates to Listings for Nuisance Species. Comments may be made through Nov. 30.

(Find more here)

ASMFC: Annual Meeting Next Week

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 84rd Annual Meeting will occur next week in Newport, Rhode Island. The meeting will be a hybrid meeting to allow for both in person and remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders. All meeting materials can be viewed on the ASMFC Annual Meeting webpage. The webpage also details how to provide public comments and how to live stream the meeting through an online webinar or by telephone. The main webinar link will be for all board meetings, the ACCSP Coordinating Council, the Executive Committee, and the Business Session of the Commission. Webinar links for meetings of the Law Enforcement Committee, the Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee, and the Habitat Committee can be found on the agendas for those meetings.

The Commission is looking forward to this hybrid annual meeting which will allow for both in person and remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders. Refer to the linked page for additional information on the meeting and how to provide public comment, the final agenda, and supplemental materials.

Find more information here.

FL FWC: Recreational Harvest of Spotted Seatrout in the Indian River Management Region Will Close on Nov. 1

The recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout closes Nov. 1 in the Indian River management region.

Recreational harvest of spotted seatrout remains open in all other management regions (Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast). This includes all Florida state and inland waters within each management region, as well as adjacent federal waters. The spotted seatrout management regions are part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) holistic management approach for Florida’s most popular inshore fisheries. This approach uses a suite of fishery-specific and environmental metrics to evaluate the fishery by region, allowing the FWC to be more responsive to local concerns. 

Find more information here.

NC DEQ: 2027 Commercial Spot Season Will Close Jan. 1 Through April 28

The 2027 commercial Spot season will close Jan. 1 through April 28 in Coastal and Joint Fishing Waters of the state, a change from dates set for the 2021-2026 commercial Spot season closures.

In North Carolina, the commercial Spot fishery has closed Dec. 10 through Apr. 4 each year since 2021 to meet a 1% reduction in commercial harvest required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Over the past few years, commercial fishermen south of Carteret County have raised concerns that the Dec. 10 through Apr. 4 closure had a disproportionate impact on fishermen in this area because the Spot arrive later and move offshore later compared to the coastal counties north of this region. 

Find more information here.

NYS DEC: Over $66,000 in Funding for Recreational Fishing Projects in the New York Marine District

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with New York Sea Grant (NYSG), announced more than $66,000 in funding to support projects advancing the mission of the Marine and Coastal District of New York (MCD) Conservation, Education, and Research Board. The five projects help increase participation in marine recreational fishing and promote research, public awareness, and appreciation of the State’s marine and estuarine resources, and encourage conservation of marine fisheries.

“Education and awareness are vital to the protection of New York’s marine and coastal environment and the Marine and Coastal District program helps our marine resources by supporting not-for-profit organizations in their efforts to promote environmental stewardship,” said DEC Division of Marine Resources Director Martin Gary. “DEC’s continued successful partnership with NYSG engages younger generations, as well as our fishing community, and provides New Yorkers with more opportunities to enjoy the uniqueness of our coastline.” 

Find more information here.

NH FGD: Commercial Marine Licensing Event to Be Held on Dec. 11, 2026

 The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG), Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the Pease Development Authority Division of Ports and Harbors (DPH) will host a commercial marine licensing event in December. The event provides the commercial fishing industry with a one-stop opportunity to obtain annual commercial fishing licenses, mooring and pier use permits, and vessel registrations, all at one convenient location.

The licensing day will be held at the Dover DMV Office, 50 Boston Harbor Road, Dover, NH. The event date is Friday, December 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Find more information here.