October 6: GA DNR is seeking public comment on a proposed regulatory change to reduce the daily recreational harvest limit for Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and establish a vessel limit. Comments may be submitted through October 6.

(Find more here).

October 7: NC DEQ announced a scoping period to solicit public input on Amendment 2 to the NC Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be submitted through

October 7.

(Find more here).

October 11: NOAA Fisheries announced a scoping period for the next phase in the modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Comments may be submitted through

October 11.

(Find more here).

October 13: NC DEQ is holding its quarterly Secretary's Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board Meeting. The meeting will be in-person and virtual.

(Find more here).

October 26: NOAA is seeking public comment on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Restoration Blueprint and draft Management Plan, aimed at addressing ongoing concerns and building ecosystem resilience to threats such as climate change. Comments may be submitted through October 26.

(Find more here.).

October 26: GA DNR is holding its Coastal Advisory Council Fall Meeting

(Find more here).

October 31: NOAA Fisheries announced a proposed rule to modify North Atlantic right whale vessel speed regulations. The Federal Register Notice for this action is available at the Federal Register webpage. Comments may be submitted through October 31.

(Find more here.).

November 7: NOAA Fisheries announced a proposed rule to list the queen conch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is requesting public comment. Comments may be submitted through November 7.

(Find more here .).

ASMFC: Upcoming 80th Annual Meeting to be held in Long Branch, NJ on November 6-10

This will be a hybrid meeting to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders in all meetings except for those of the Law Enforcement Committee, Habitat Committee and Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Steering Committee. The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.

The preliminary agenda is now posted. As well as instructions for registering for the event and how to provide public comment.

Find more information here.

NEFMC: Council Signs Off on Atlantic Herring 2023-2025 Specifications and Receives Stock Assessment Overview

The New England Fishery Management Council voted on a 2023-2025 specifications package that will determine catch limits for the Atlantic herring fishery for the next three fishing years.

The Council took this step during its September 2022 hybrid meeting in Gloucester and based the decision on:

• The most recent stock assessment information available.

• The Scientific and Statistical Committee’s overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for the resource.

• The herring rebuilding plan in Framework Adjustment 9.

The 2023-2025 annual catch limits (ACLs) are low but represent an increase from recent fishing years.

Find more information here.

NYS DEC: Annual 'I FISH NY' Fall Fishing Festival Oct. 15th at Hempstead Lake State Park

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) I FISH NY Program and Freshwater Fisheries Unit and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced the annual Fall Family Fishing and Children's Festival at Hempstead Lake State Park will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festival activities include fishing with free loaner rods and bait, fishing instruction, casting instruction, and fish-cleaning services. In addition to fishing opportunities, the festival features a children's casting for pumpkins contest, live animal show, magician, pumpkin decorating, fish printing, and a children's slide, in addition to DEC and State Parks displays.

The fishing license requirement for all anglers over the age of 16 is suspended for this festival, and admission and parking are free.

Find more information here.

VMRC: Commercial Spiny Dogfish Trip Limit Increase

At the September 27, 2022 meeting of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Commission voted unanimously to increase the state waters commercial spiny dogfish trip limit from 6,000 pounds to 7,500 pounds. This increase directly mirrors the new trip limit established by National Marine Fisheries Service in April 2022 for federal waters.

This change will take effect October 1, 2022.

Find more information here.

NC DEQ: State officials advise against swimming in coastal waters impacted by Hurricane Ian

State recreational water quality officials are advising the public to avoid swimming in North Carolina coastal waters affected by Hurricane Ian.

Heavy winds and rain have negatively impacted all coastal waters. Waters affected by floodwaters can contain elevated levels of harmful bacteria. The excess rain has caused flooding of streets, yards and housing that have resulted in beach communities having to pump floodwaters into the ocean. These areas, including the wet sand where the floodwater is pumped, should also be avoided, even if no sign is posted.

While state officials do not have immediate laboratory confirmation that disease-causing organisms are in the water, storm impacts increase the chance that contamination is present thus increasing the risk of adverse health effects from swimming in these waters.

Residents and visitors should avoid swimming in these waters until bacteriological testing indicates sample results within the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s standards. Testing will begin as soon as conditions are safe to do so and areas are accessible. The advisory will be lifted in part or in whole as test results become available.

Find more information here.

NH FGD: Additional Introductory Fly Tying Course Added to Fall Schedule

Due to an overwhelming response from new anglers, an additional fall introductory fly tying class has been added to the Let’s Go Fishing Program schedule. Registration is now open for this second class, which will be held on November 5 from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at North Country Anglers in North Conway, NH. Upcoming winter classes will be held throughout the Granite State from January through March of 2023, which will include a variety of hands-on events and opportunities for both beginner and intermediate participants to learn the techniques that will make the art of fly tying personally rewarding and exciting.

Preregistration for this free morning workshop is required and is first-come, first-served. No experience is necessary. This course is limited to 12 participants, ages 15 and older. All program materials and equipment will be provided.

Find more information here.

ME DMR: Scallop License Lotteries to Accept Applications Starting October 3rd

The Department of Marine Resources is announcing the annual lotteries for scallop drag and scallop diver (handfishing) licenses. Based on licenses retired in 2021, the Department is making available 6 drag licenses and 5 diver licenses for 2022.

The Department will begin accepting applications today October 3, 2022 at noon, and the lotteries will remain open until Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 4:30 pm.

An individual is eligible to enter either the scallop drag license lottery, or the scallop handfishing or handfishing with tender license lottery, but not both, if they meet the necessary criteria:

There is a $37 fee to enter each lottery. $35 of each entry is deposited in the Scallop Research Fund and $2 goes to InforME which designed and supports the online lottery entry system.

Find more information here.

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: Exploring the Public's Thoughts on Ocean Protection in the United States

Americans, regardless of demographics, political party, or geographic location, care deeply about the ocean and its health. They want the government and business to do more to protect the ocean and ensure activities do not harm ocean life, according to a new survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The nationally representative survey of 1,086 Americans, the first of its kind, provides in-depth insights about the public’s views of ocean protection and environmental policy. The findings demonstrate Americans’ strong desire for leaders to act to protect the ocean, its health, and the life it sustains and highlight Americans’ concern regarding ocean health. The poll shows broad public support for policies that will protect marine environments.

The survey reveals that Americans overwhelmingly support policies to reduce water pollution (86%), protect threatened and endangered marine species (85%), and reduce single use plastic pollution (76%). Land-based pollution harms fragile ecosystems and species, and increasingly lead to human health concerns such as harmful algal bloom toxins and contaminated seafood.

Find more information here.

NOAA Fisheries: 2022 Scup Winter II Period Quota and Possession Limit Increase

The commercial scup quota and the possession limit per trip for the 2022 Winter II Period (October 1-December 31) have been increased due to the rollover of unused quota from the Winter I period.

Find more information here.

NOAA: Ramping Up Renewable Energy

Two years ago, there were no offshore wind farms in U.S. federal waters. Now, there are two farms, with a total of seven turbines in federal waters, producing roughly 32 megawatts of energy. These numbers are about to get a lot higher. The first two commercial-scale offshore wind projects, which will produce around 900 megawatts of energy, are both under construction. The U.S. government aims to deploy 30 gigawatts of wind energy production in federal waters by 2030. The National Ocean Service (NOS) is helping the nation achieve this goal.

Collaborating closely with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), wind energy developers, the marine transportation industry, commercial fishing professionals, and local communities, NOAA is helping ensure that the nation can increase wind energy production while protecting marine life, ecosystems, communities, and the blue economy. NOS provides data and tools to BOEM to help them choose sites, evaluate potential impacts, and maintain accurate ocean data in offshore wind energy areas.

Find more information here.

NOAA Fisheries: Celebrate National Seafood Month

As we welcome autumn, we also celebrate National Seafood Month. The United States is recognized as a global leader in sustainable seafood for both wild-caught and farmed species. U.S. fishermen and fish farmers operate under some of the most robust and transparent environmental standards in the world. NOAA Fisheries works to advance and export sustainable management practices internationally. We establish and maintain a level playing field for our fishermen and fish farmers, and maintain confidence in U.S. seafood products and access to the global marketplace.

Join NOAA all month long to celebrate sustainable seafood with new features, videos, and more. There's a lot to celebrate because—aside from being scrumptious—seafood is good for you, good for the economy, and good for the planet! So dig into our seafood features below.

Find more information here.

What We're Reading

‘One more thing’ about plastics: They could be acidifying the ocean, study says (Mongabay)

Surf and Turf: Saving a Wave by Protecting the Land In Mexico, scientists, surfers, and a passionate community rally to protect a beloved break. (Hakai Magazine)

Hurricane Ian was a powerful storm. Real estate developers made it a catastrophe 'Dredge-and-fill' created thousands of homes vulnerable to storm surge (Grist)

Sustainable Seafood? It's A Question Of Data (NPR)

Hurricane Ian's rapid intensification signals climate change's impact An unprecedented number of storms rated Category 4 or stronger have lashed the U.S. shoreline in recent years (The Washington Post)

China's Fishing Operations Raise Alarms Worldwide With its own coastal waters depleted, China has built a global fishing operation unmatched by any other country (New York Times)

How the sea fireflies of the Caribbean are shining new light on evolution Tiny Caribbean crustaceans and their bioluminescent mating displays are shining new light on evolution (Science)

Coral Reef Protection to Grow with the Green Fins Hub Enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment (Seven Seas Media)

Arctic Ocean acidifying up to four times as fast as other oceans Scientists ‘shocked’ by rate of change as rapid sea-ice melt drives absorption of CO2 – with ‘huge implications’ for Arctic sea life (The Guardian)

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