Upcoming

Meetings

April 3-4: King and Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings in North Carolina

April 2: Meeting of ACCSP Operations Committee and Advisory Committee

April 9-11: Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting

April 16-18: New England Fishery Management Council April 2024 Meeting

April 29-May 2: ASMFC Spring Meeting

May 18-19: Ocean Fun Days Event

June 4-6: Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council June 2024 Meeting

June 10-14: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council June 2024 Meeting

June 25-27: New England Fishery Management Council June 2024 Meeting

June 20: Webinar on the Role of Marine Protected Areas in Providing Ecosystem Services to Improve Ocean and Human Health

Jobs

Assistant Marine Scientist -- SC DNR (Charleston, SC)

(Due: April 5)

Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)

(Due: April 5)

Foreign Affairs Specialist (NMFS OLE) -- NOAA (Silver Spring, MD)

(Due: April 9)

Marine Fisheries Biologist -- NC DEQ (Manteo, NC)

(Due: April 9)

Acoustics Project Lead (Marine Resource Scientist II) -- ME DMR (West Boothbay Harbor, ME)

(Due: April 11)

Executive Director -- NH FGD (Concord, NH)

(Due: April 16)

Associate Research Scientist -- FL FWC (Marathon, FL)

(Due: April 19)

Inflation Reduction Act and Climate Response Projects Coordinator (contractor) -- SAMFC (remote)

(Due: April 22)

39th Game Warden Academy -- GA DNR Law Enforcement

(Due: April 30)

Conservation Officer I -- NH FGD Law Enforcement (Concord, NH)

(Due: April 30)

RI Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC (Jamestown, RI)

(Due: April 30)

Executive Director -- American Fisheries Society (Due: May 14)

Senior Manager, Coastal Resilience -- National Wildlife Federation (Annapolis, MD)

(Open Until Filled)

MRIP Field Technician Contractor -- ME DMR

(Open Until Filled)

Science Internship -- OceanX (partly or fully remote)

(Open Until Filled)

Research Assistant (Physical Oceanography) -- WHOI (Woods Hole, MA)

(Open Until Filled)

Aquatic Biologist -- MA DMF (Gloucester, MA)

(Open Until Filled)

Marine Patrol Officer -- ME DMR (Augusta, ME)

(Open Until Filled)

NH Recreational Angler Interviewer -- ASMFC (Durham, NH)

(Open Until Filled)

Director, Conservation Planning and Evaluation -- NFWF (Washington, DC)

(Open Until Filled)

South Shore and Cape Cod MRIP Recreational Fisheries Technician -- MA DMF (5 positions)

(Open Until Filled)

Environmental Police Officer Trainee -- RI DEM

(Open Until Filled)

eDNA Field Tech -- MA DFG DMF (New Bedford, MA)

(Open Until Filled)

MRIP Seasonal Data Field Technician -- VMRC

(Open Until Filled)

Various Fisheries Observer Positions, AIS

Various NOAA Positions, Lynker Technologies

Various Ocean and Fisheries Positions, Ocean Associates Inc.

Public Comment

April 4: MAFMC is seeking public comments on Summer Flounder Minimum Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum. Comments may be made through April 4.

(Find more here)

April 5: MD DMF is seeking public comments on the period scheduled for proposals affecting lobster carapace size, v-notch, escape vent, and trap tag rules; use of MA lobster buoy line; housekeeping. Comments may be made through April 5.

(Find more here)

April 8: NOAA is seeking public comments on Proposed Rule: Framework 66 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be made through April 8.

(Find more here)

April 25: NOAA is seeking public comments on proposed revisions for updating and clarifying provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Comments may be made through April 25.

(Find more here)

April 30: NEFMC is seeking public comments regarding the range of alternatives to consider in Amendment 10 (A10) to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be made through April 30.

(Find more here)

June 3: ASMFC is seeking public comments on Draft Addendum XXX to Amendment 3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be made through June 3.

(Find more here)

RI DEM: Announcement of 2024 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act Grantees Helping Grow Seafood Businesses

Governor Dan McKee, members of the Rhode Island General Assembly, and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced the 2024 Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grantees at Newport Vineyards. More than 40 local farmers, fishers, specialty food producers obtained LASA grant awards, splitting more than $650,000 in funding on projects that will support the growth, development, and marketing of local farms, seafood harvesters, and food businesses. LASA grants support small businesses and increase Rhode Island’s food security.

 Authored by Senator V. Susan Sosnowski in 2012 and run by DEM, the LASA program helps new and existing small food businesses grow and flourish. Since the COVID pandemic, DEM has steered the program to prioritize building capacity for markets connecting local farms and fishers with food-insecure communities and supporting agriculture producers and fishers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color – along with developing small food businesses. The LASA program provides grants that directly benefit and strengthen the local food system in Rhode Island by providing funding for projects that help support the growth, development, and marketing of RI Grown produce and RI Seafood. Since its enactment 12 years ago, LASA has provided more than $2 million through individual program grants up to $20,000 with no direct match required.

Find more information here.

SC DNR: Hampton Wildlife Fund Donates $195,800 for Conservation Projects

The Hampton Wildlife Fund has presented the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) with a check for $195,800 to be used for state-wide projects during 2024. The total donated to SCDNR by the Hampton Wildlife Fund over the years now stands at $4,574,970.

The Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund Inc. (Hampton Wildlife Fund) is a private, non-profit corporation which partners with SCDNR for the promotion of natural resources and natural resource education, which benefits the conservation of wildlife, marine and other resources in South Carolina. Funds are obtained solely through private donations and special promotional projects and fundraising events. Although some of the funds are donated to special projects run by SCDNR, they are not used to replace any of the department’s programs already supported by state-appropriated money.

Find more information here.

NYS DEC: Draft Eligibility Guidelines for

Water Quality Improvement Project Grants for Environmental Restoration Projects

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released for public review and comment three sets of draft eligibility guidelines to allocate funding to support the removal or repair of State-owned dams, restoration of State-administered flood control projects, and improvement of flood risk reduction projects statewide under the historic $4.2-billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. 

Dams serve as critical infrastructure to reduce flooding, secure water supplies, and help generate energy, among other important functions. DEC will direct funding for flood risk reduction through the repair, rehabilitation, removal, and modernization of State-owned dams. To the greatest extent practicable, projects should include the installation of fish passage structures to provide aquatic connectivity. Eligible applicants include State agencies and authorities. 

New York’s fish and wildlife resources have tremendous economic, ecological, recreational, and intrinsic value but are often threatened by habitat loss and/or impairment. This program will provide funding for projects that will, as their primary goal, conserve, protect, restore, and/or enhance important fish and wildlife habitats. Eligible applicants include municipalities as defined in State Environmental Conservation Law Article 58, State agencies, non-profit organizations, Indian Nations, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 

Find more information here.

MD DNR: Expansion of the Shrinkwrap Recycling Program for Boaters

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Clean Marina Initiative and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland are expanding their shrinkwrap recycling program directly to boaters in Queen Anne’s and Anne Arundel counties. This expansion will allow boaters who keep their boats at home in these counties to join the recycling effort . Previously, shrinkwrap recycling efforts were only targeted to boatyards and marinas, which continue to participate in the program.

The expansion is coordinated in partnership with the Queen Anne’s County Commission, the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Plastic Free Queen Anne’s County, West Marine, and Fawcett’s Boat Supplies. 

Boaters will receive detailed instructions on how to prepare the wrap properly, and where to take their bundle for recycling. Key to the success of the project is boaters removing all straps, bands, zippers, doors, and vents from the shrinkwrap, as even one of these will contaminate the whole load. Shrinkwrap is not accepted in curbside recycling and must be taken to special dumpsters provided just for those with the special recycling bags. 

Bags will be available while supplies last from early April 1 through May 31 at the participating locations noted above. In 2023 the program collected and recycled 65,000 pounds of used shrinkwrap. More information and instructions are available on the DNR Clean Marina website.

Find more information here.

MD DNR: Chesapeake Bay Recreational and Charter Boat Striped Bass Summer and Fall Fishery Size Limits

The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces a change to the size

limit for the striped bass recreational and charter boat summer and fall fishery for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including the Maryland tributaries of the Potomac River. Effective 12:01 a.m. May 16, 2024, the minimum size for striped bass is 19 inches and the maximum size for striped bass is 24 inches. This rule is effective for the 2024 striped bass summer and fall season, which runs from May 16, 2024, through July 15, 2024, and August 1, 2024, through December 10, 2024.

All other rules, including those established by emergency regulation which close all Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries to targeting striped bass from April 1 through May 15, and the Susquehanna Flats, Susquehanna River, and Northeast River to targeting striped bass from April 1 through May 31, remain the same.

Find more information here.

MAFMC: Seeking Applicants for Advisory Panels

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is accepting applications from qualified individuals to serve on its advisory panels for the next three years. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26, 2024.

Advisory panels provide information and recommendations to the Council during the development of fishery management plans, amendments, specifications, and management measures. One of the chief responsibilities of advisory panels is the development of annual Fishery Performance Reports. These reports provide the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee with information about the factors that influenced fishing effort and catch within each fishery during the previous year.

Advisory panels are composed of individuals with diverse experience and interest in Mid-Atlantic fisheries, including commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, for-hire operators, commercial dealers, scientists, environmentalists, and other members of the interested public. Most advisory panels meet 1-2 times per year. Members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for any in-person meetings. Individuals who are appointed to advisory panels serve for three-year terms. Learn more about advisory panels here.

Find more information here.