Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries MarineFisheries manages the Commonwealth’s living marine resources in balance with the environment and coastal culture.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries manages the Commonwealth’s living marine resources in balance with the environment resulting in sustainable fisheries and contributions to our economy, stable availability of diverse, healthy seafood and enriched opportunities that support our coastal culture. To purchase a recreational saltwater fishing and/or lobstering permit, or to learn more abo

ut the recreational permits, please click: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/recreational-fishing/recreational-saltwater-permits.html

To access commercial fishing information, such as regulations, permits, and quotas, please click: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/commercial-fishing/

To visit our main website, please click: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dmf/

To report marine fisheries related violations of law, please contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police (Office of Law Enforcement) at 1-800-632-8075. Calls are answered 24/7 by dispatchers who can contact an officer in your area.

How do we study horseshoe crabs? DMF relies on three surveys to monitor horseshoe crab populations in Massachusetts—a t...
06/13/2026

How do we study horseshoe crabs?

DMF relies on three surveys to monitor horseshoe crab populations in Massachusetts—a trawl survey, spawning survey, and beach seine survey. These surveys collect data on horseshoe crab abundance by monitoring adult and late-stage juvenile populations over extensive time series. Each of these three surveys demonstrate positive population abundance trends over the past 10-15 years. When long-term data reveal similar trends in horseshoe crab population health, it enhances confidence in both the data and population status.

All three surveys have indicated positive trends in the local horseshoe crab population:

- The trawl survey is conducted by DMF each year during the fall and spring from a research vessel towing a net at stations statewide. This survey has shown improvements in relative abundance over the past 10 to 15 years, particularly south of Cape Cod with 2025 spring survey data observing a record high number of female crabs.

- The spawning beach survey is a joint DMF-volunteer survey conducted each spring along certain beaches in the southeastern portion of the state and counts adult crabs spawning along the beach. 90% of spawning survey locations show an increasing trend over the last 10 years.

- The seine survey is conducted by DMF each year during the early summer from beaches along embayments on the south side of Cape Cod. This survey has exhibited an increasing trend for 20 years.

These results, informed by long-term data, are promising for horseshoe crab populations. Research and monitoring continue to be done in partnership with organizations, fishermen, and scientists across the state.

To learn more about Horseshoe Crab Monitoring, visit the link in our bio.

After a decades-long effort to restore the Parker River, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Town of Newbury, and fe...
06/12/2026

After a decades-long effort to restore the Parker River, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Town of Newbury, and federal and nonprofit partners today celebrated the successful removal of the obsolete Larkin Dam and the restoration of a free-flowing Parker River.

This marks a major milestone for river health, public safety, and climate resilience, reconnecting more than a mile of upstream habitat for migratory and resident fish while reducing flood risks.

“Restoring free flowing rivers is one of the most effective actions we can take to strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience in Massachusetts,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “By removing the Larkin Dam, we’re reopening habitat for native fish, revitalizing the Parker River ecosystem, and advancing the Commonwealth’s commitment to safeguarding fish and wildlife and habitats they depend upon. This project shows what’s possible when partners come together to let rivers be rivers again.”

Today’s celebration brought together project partners, including the Town of Newbury, MA, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Today’s celebration highlights the growing momentum for river restoration across Massachusetts,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “Since 2005, DER and its partners have advanced more than 70 dam removal projects statewide, reconnecting hundreds of miles of rivers and streams and strengthening the Commonwealth’s resilience to climate change. We are proud to see another barrier removed and river restored thanks to the leadership of the dam owner, the Town of Newbury, and our strong community of partners. When dams come down, nature comes back.”

For more details, visit https://www.mass.gov/news/larkin-dam-removed-restoring-a-free-flowing-parker-river-in-newbury

Photo: Project partners gather at the former Larkin Dam site on June 11, 2026, to celebrate removal of the dam and restored natural benefits for people and wildlife.

Photo: Dam removal in progress, October 2025.

Come to Nut Island for a day of fishing and fun this Saturday, June 13, from 10am - 2pm! Reel Fun Fishing Day is a free ...
06/12/2026

Come to Nut Island for a day of fishing and fun this Saturday, June 13, from 10am - 2pm! Reel Fun Fishing Day is a free event that includes our fishing clinic and a bunch of other great activities for the family! We’ll be there with gear and bait to teach basic saltwater angling skills, including knot tying, casting, and fish identification. Register for your free tickets and see you there! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reel-fun-fishing-day-at-nut-island-tickets-1988650289549

Boston Harbor Now Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife National Park Service

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Farm & Sea to School, and the Metropolitan Area Planning C...
06/12/2026

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Farm & Sea to School, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are excited to announce a new opportunity to expand local seafood sales to Massachusetts K-12 schools. This 2026 Seafood for Schools Request for Proposals (RFP) is a procurement for varieties of fresh, frozen, or processed locally-landed seafood items that will be made available for schools across Massachusetts in the coming school year.

Check your email for the MAPC 2026 Seafood for Schools Request for Proposals (RFP) or email MAPC’s Procurement Services Manager, Kelsi Champley at [email protected] for documents or with any questions regarding the procurement, submission concerns, or the items being requested. Questions can also be asked during the Vendor Conference next week: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 12:30 PM via Zoom. The Zoom information is in the RFP.

Due date for this RFP is Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 4:00 PM via CommBUYS.

The weather wasn’t perfect, but we still had a lot of fun teaching new anglers how to saltwater fish from Besse Park’s s...
06/11/2026

The weather wasn’t perfect, but we still had a lot of fun teaching new anglers how to saltwater fish from Besse Park’s sport fishing pier in Wareham. Participants learned all about knot tying, baiting their hook, and casting, and one lucky angler reeled in the catch of the clinic, a fluke! We have several more fishing clinics coming this summer, so check out our website to find a free Take Me Saltwater Fishing event near you! https://www.mass.gov/info-details/saltwater-angler-education-program

As we quickly approach summer weather and expanded fishing opportunities, anglers are reminded of state regulations desi...
06/11/2026

As we quickly approach summer weather and expanded fishing opportunities, anglers are reminded of state regulations designed to protect large sharks and enhance public safety. Rod and reel fishing from shore with heavy gear—using a metal or wire leader exceeding 18” length AND a hook with a gap greater than 5/8”—is prohibited from Plymouth Point south and east along the shoreline of Cape Cod Bay, the Outer Cape, Monomoy Island, and Chatham Harbor and Stage Harbor (note the highlighted areas).

Shore-based fishing with this heavy gear is authorized in areas outside of the prohibited regions. However, when fishing this heavy gear in authorized areas, chumming from sunrise to sunset is prohibited for public safety purposes. Additionally, the use of mechanized propulsion and remote-controlled (rc) devices (e.g., drones, bait cannons, rc boats) to deploy baits is prohibited when conducting any shore-based fishing.

If you do catch a shark from shore, remember:

- Keep the shark in the water, especially their gills
- Minimize handling and release time and do not delay release just to take pictures
- Do not sit on the shark’s back
- Use a long-handled dehooking device to help with hook removal if it does not delay release
- Carry wire or bolt cutters that can cleanly cut your leader or a hook to speed up releases

Read more at the link in our bio.

Meet Rob Bollmann, Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) interviewer with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisher...
06/10/2026

Meet Rob Bollmann, Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) interviewer with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries since 2024. He loves fly fishing for trout on blue ribbon streams and chasing bass in lakes and ponds. Rob graduated from Salem State University and double majored in biology and chemistry. He’s currently working on his master’s degree in fisheries management through Oregon State University.

APAIS is one of NOAA Fisheries Service recreational fishing surveys. It gathers catch information from anglers as they complete their fishing trips. Specially trained state interviewers like Rob conduct the survey at marinas, boat ramps, beaches, piers, and other public fishing access sites.

If you see Rob or other state interviewers at the docks, help make your catch count by providing your fishing trip info when requested. These interviewers play no role in law enforcement. The info is used to support optimal fishing opportunities while ensuring sustainable fish stocks for future generations.

Hold on, last week’s striped bass leader just got knocked off the top spot on the derby leaderboard! Congrats, Zack Flan...
06/09/2026

Hold on, last week’s striped bass leader just got knocked off the top spot on the derby leaderboard! Congrats, Zack Flanagan, your 44.5-incher is now the biggest striper of the spring (for now!) in the Catch & Release Division of the Commissioner’s Cup. Summer is fast approaching, and there will be plenty of opportunities to challenge Zack at the top of the leaderboard. If you haven’t entered a fish in the derby yet, it’s quick and easy! Just visit our website for rules and entry forms: https://www.mass.gov/saltwater-fishing-derby

06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day 🌊 

For generations, the ocean has been a key part of our culture in the Commonwealth. Our spanning coastline, rich marine biodiversity, and access to healthy seafood uniquely tie us to the sea. It sustains fishing and coastal communities and inspires curiosity.  

As we look to the future, one thing is clear: we share collective responsibility to protect the marine environment, use resources sustainably, and preserve our coastal heritage for the benefit of everyone who calls Massachusetts home.

We are proud to closely collaborate with the fishing industry to work towards these goals. Through research and monitoring, effective management, and support for the innovative work led by DFG’s Biodiversity Goals, we strive to ensure the future of our fisheries, working waterfronts, and coastal culture is sustainable.  

Visit the link in our bio to learn more about Biodiversity Goals.

Video description: a beach with gentle waves at sunrise with text that reads “Happy World Oceans Day”.

06/06/2026

For just a few more weeks, you can witness the spawning behavior of this unique living fossil along Massachusetts beaches!

During May and June—and particularly around full and new moons—horseshoe crabs will temporarily leave their underwater homes to spawn on shore. Unlike many arthropods, horseshoe crab eggs are fertilized externally. Females bury thousands of eggs in the sand, and multiple males can fertilize them. Over a spawning season, females can lay up to 80,000 eggs, supporting the next generation of horseshoe crabs and providing an important food source for shorebirds.

Most spawning activity in Massachusetts occurs by early June, but there’s still a chance to find horseshoe crabs!

Share your sightings with us through the Horseshoe Crab Challenge!

Through iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/massachusetts-horseshoe-crab-challenge

Through our Mass.gov survey: https://www.mass.gov/forms/horseshoe-crab-observations

Video description: Many horseshoe crabs gather to spawn in the shallow water on a beach.

Address

Boston, MA

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 4:45pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 4:45pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 4:45pm
Thursday 8:45am - 4:45pm
Friday 8:45am - 4:45pm

Telephone

+16176261520

Website

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