October 4: NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on a petition for rulemaking for Atlantic cod. The petition requests we prepare a Secretarial Amendment and take specific emergency action to end overfishing and rebuild Atlantic cod (Find more here). 

The East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Core Team, composed of representatives from the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and NOAA Fisheries, recently hosted three kick-off webinars to introduce stakeholders to the Scenario Planning Initiative. Introductory videos from these webinars are posted on the Initiative’s webpage. As the next step in the Initiative, the Core Team is asking recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, researchers, coastal community planners, and all other stakeholders to fill out a 12-question scoping questionnaire so the team can gather additional viewpoints and perspectives as it continues its work on scenario planning. The questionnaire can be found here and is open until September 30, 2021.

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Data collected by the MD DNR and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia worsened in August following two better-than average months. The hypoxic water volume — areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 1.88 and 1.61 cubic miles during early and late August monitoring cruises, compared to historical early and late August averages (1985-2020) of 1.35 and 1.06 cubic miles.

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Fish On! Free Fishing Days Established for Recreational Fishing in Virginia Saltwater areas for the first weekend in October 1-3, 2021. If you've always wanted to try fishing, now is your chance without needing to purchase a saltwater license! Early fall is an excellent time to test Virginia’s saltwaters--air and water temperatures have begun to cool and the fish are more active than during the hot summer time. So take advantage of the free fishing days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 1, 2 and 3, 2021, and enjoy the great outdoors with your family and friends without having to spend money for a saltwater fishing license.

Find more information here.

The DNREC announced Division of Parks and Recreation Director Ray Bivens has received the 2021 National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) Conference Distinguished Service Award Sept. 10 during the NASPD’s annual conference. NASPD states on its website that “The Distinguished Service award is given to a state park director who has demonstrated a long-term, sustained record of professional accomplishment in the field of park and recreation management.”

“Ray is the perfect recipient of this national award. He is an innovative problem solver and leader whose passion for the environment, people and our state park system directly benefit the millions of people who visit Delaware State Parks each year,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “He is a true steward of park lands with a customer-centric focus who pushes his team to excel and provide the public with enjoyable experiences within our state parks.”

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Governor Dan McKee and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announce today that $4 million in outdoor recreation matching grants is available to help local municipalities and Native American tribes acquire, develop, or renovate outdoor recreational facilities in their communities. The grant round is now open, with a deadline of Dec. 17, 2021. Funding provided through the 2021 Beach, Clean Water and Green Bond – which Rhode Island voters approved by a margin of almost 80 percent last March – is capitalizing the grants.

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The Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announce that commercial fishing and charter/for hire businesses, qualified aquaculture operators, seafood processors, and dealers are eligible to apply for an additional $255 million in assistance funding provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The funding will support activities previously authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Find more information here.