Latest news with #DivisionofMarineFisheries
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Division of Marine Fisheries' Junior Marine Patrol camp offers hands-on learning
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) — It's the second year for the Division of Marine Fisheries Junior Marine Patrol Camp, and students from all over come to Morehead City to get a unique experience on what the Marine Patrol does. So far this week, eighth grader Morgan Wallace learned how to tie knots, identify fish, and drive a boat. 'It's fun. It's like not really hard or it's not like a boot camp, but it's really fun,' Eighth Grader at G.R. Whitefield, Morgan Wallace, said. She's one of 15 students this year in the Junior Marine Patrol Academy, hitting the water. 'It's really important to teach our youth how to protect the things in our environment. We have to set limits on fish. We have to set limits on different things so that the resource will last into future generations,' Marine Patrol Officer Candace Rose said. 'It's really good for the kids to learn that at a younger age, and that's why Marine patrol officers are here. We are the enforcement portion of that protection, so we can make a rule, but you need someone that can actually go out and enforce it.' Marine Patrol Enforcement Officer Erik Smith enjoys seeing the students come out of their shells throughout the week. 'I've been a marine patrol officer for 21 years. I grew up here in the state of North Carolina,' Marine Patrol Officer Erik Smith said. 'I grew up enjoying the resource. And I think it's very important to expose our younger generations to what we do as enforcement officers and why we do it.' Click the video above for more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A new MA Commercial Fisheries Commission has been established. What we know.
Various commercial fishing and seafood industry organizations recently met to develop ways to ensure the economic sustainability of the fishing industry by working with state government representatives. This includes promoting and advocating for the industry, enhancing economic development opportunities and infrastructure, and proactively and cooperatively addressing emerging challenges, including how best to co-exist with ocean development projects. The new Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission identified three priorities at its first meeting. One is to assist the Division of Marine Fisheries to update its 2021 Port Profile Project, a living document that describes commercial fishing activity and infrastructure at ports throughout the state. The others are to develop a strategy for interacting with the Fisheries Working Group on offshore wind and consider how to address fishery science challenges given that federal survey efforts may be constrained. The Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission was created to strengthen coordination, communication and support for Massachusetts' nation-leading seafood industry for generations to come. Development Fairhaven waterfront restaurants get a boost to make room for more customers: Check it out Division of Marine Fisheries Director Daniel McKiernan and Office of Coastal Zone Management Director Alison Brizius are co-chairs of the commission. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper is also a member. Other members include appointed representatives from the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, Massachusetts Fishermen's Partnership, Massachusetts Seafood Collaborative; Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, New Bedford Port Authority, Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, Gloucester Fisheries Commission, Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, Fisheries Survival Fund, Center for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Seafood Coalition, Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association, and the University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology. Construction Voc-Tech students build pavilion for outdoor learning at Our Sisters' School Representatives from commercial fishing groups will meet with state officials quarterly to promote sustainable fisheries and support for the industry. 'We are proud to establish the Commercial Fisheries Commission and look forward to working with the seafood industry representatives to improve opportunities for our commercial fishers, seafood processors, dealers, restaurants and other industry participants,' Tepper said in a statement. 'The fishing industry is an integral part of the Massachusetts economy, and I am looking forward to collaborating with the Commercial Fisheries Commission on legislative solutions,' said State Rep. Tony Cabral, D-New Bedford. The Commercial Fisheries Commission was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in August 2022. The purpose is to 'develop and recommend strategies, methods and tools to promote the sustainability of the Commonwealth's commercial fishing industry" and 'address subjects including responsible development of offshore energy projects, mitigation and support strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries.' Development Cove Surf and Turf plans elevated terrace to enhance dining experience, seeks approval The Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission met for the first time on April 8. The Commission will meet four times a year to address emerging issues related to commercial fisheries. Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@ Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission established
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Forbes
Why Massachusetts Is Cracking Down On Shore-Based White Shark Fishing
A person runs as a Great White Shark swims just meters away on the Cape Cod National Sea Shore on ... More the eastern side of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images) Are you one of those fishermen chasing social media clout by trying to land a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)? If so, Massachusetts has a message for you: think again. Ahead of the upcoming white shark season, state officials have rolled out stricter rules to crack down on shore-based shark fishing, particularly around Cape Cod. While targeting white sharks has long been prohibited, enforcement has been tricky. Anglers have often gotten around the ban by claiming they're fishing for other, legal shark species. That loophole is now closing. Thanks to a recent vote by the state's Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, new regulations give the Massachusetts Environmental Police the authority they need to address this growing issue. White sharks are protected in state and federal waters, and Cape Cod has become a seasonal hotspot for them. These new regulations are meant to reduce the chances of intentional or unintentional targeting of white sharks, which not only harms the animals but also increases public safety risks. According to Daniel McKiernan, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, the goal is to limit shore-based fishing for white sharks without completely shutting down recreational fishing. 'We believe the new regulations balance public safety while still allowing shore-based recreational fishing opportunities for other species,' he said. So what's driving the need for these changes? Part of the problem is how visible and enticing this type of fishing has become on social media. Videos of people landing sharks — especially iconic species like the great white — get lots of clicks, shares, and praise online. This has led to more people trying their luck at catching one, even if they're not supposed to. Jared Silva, a policy analyst with the Division of Marine Fisheries, called out this trend directly, saying there's a growing group of anglers chasing viral fame instead of respecting the rules. But this behavior isn't just risky for the sharks. It's risky for people, too. Chumming and baiting activities bring sharks closer to shore — sometimes dangerously close to where people are swimming, surfing or just enjoying the beach. And as fishermen try to cast their lines farther out, many now use drones or other mechanized devices to drop baits beyond the surf. Add in the summer tourist crowds, and it becomes a volatile mix. 'They can't co-exist,' Silva said bluntly. Shark fishing and sunbathers just don't go hand in hand. 'It's a huge public safety issue.' Greg Skomal pointed out that targeting white sharks in the banned areas is 'quite easy,' given their ... More high seasonal abundance nearshore along the Cape's eastern beaches. 'The abundance that we see out there is mind blowing,' Skomal said. 'They are quite close to shore.' That's why the new rules include clear boundaries, such as a defined ban on shore-based shark fishing in key areas of Cape Cod where white sharks are commonly seen. This includes the coastline from Plymouth Beach south to the Cape Cod Canal, continuing along Cape Cod Bay and wrapping around to the Atlantic-facing beaches down to Chatham. The restrictions cover both the outer and inner Cape, including Monomoy Island and Chatham Harbor — all known white shark hotspots. The South Cape and Islands — where recreational shark fishing has historically focused on species other than great whites — are not included in the restricted area. The regulations also take aim at some of the techniques that have become popular in recent years, such as chumming (the act of throwing bloody fish parts or other bait into the water to attract sharks). Chumming is now banned from sunrise to sunset when fishing from shore, and mechanized or remote-controlled devices (like drones) are not prohibited to deploy bait while fishing with rod and reel from the shore. These specific restrictions give environmental police a better chance at stopping illegal targeting of white sharks before an incident occurs. In other words, officials don't need to guess someone's intent anymore — they just need to see the gear or methods being used. Of course, not everyone is thrilled about the new rules. Tim Brady, the only dissenting member of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, raised concerns that the rules might unintentionally block access to legal shark species: 'I understand the potential user group conflict but are we also preventing somebody who's targeting a different shark species, which they can target?' He also questioned just how likely it really is to hook a great white. But longtime shark scientist Dr. Greg Skomal quickly pushed back. Along the eastern beaches of the Cape, he said, 'The abundance that we see out there is mind blowing. They are quite close to shore.' For Skomal, the new rules are not about taking away fishing opportunities — they're about protecting both people and sharks. He emphasized that most other legally fishable shark species are located on the southern side of the Cape and Islands, far from the newly restricted zones. 'There will be little impact on those existing fisheries,' he added. Pending a final regulatory review, the rules are expected to go into effect for the upcoming season. And when they do, Massachusetts Environmental Police will finally have the tools they need to curb a growing and dangerous trend. Whether you're an angler looking to catch a thrill or a tourist hoping for a peaceful day at the beach, the message is clear: Massachusetts is putting safety and science first.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Massachusetts Just Banned Most Shark Fishing from Land, Blaming Anglers Who Want ‘That Viral Video' with a Great White
Fisheries officials in Massachusetts don't want anglers targeting great white sharks, especially not from public beaches, and they just approved new regulations to crack down on the practice ahead of the upcoming season. Under the new rules, which were recommended by the state's Division of Marine Fisheries and approved by the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory on Thursday, land-based shark fishing is now banned on Cape Cod and most of the surrounding coastline. Chumming from shore during daylight hours is also banned statewide, as is fishing with drones and other mechanized devices. Massachusetts's stricter rules build on existing state regulations, and officials say they will allow for better enforcement of those regs, according to the Boston Herald. Keeping great white sharks has been illegal in the Bay State since 2005, and emergency regulations enacted in 2015 further prohibited anglers from even targeting the species. But these rules have been difficult to enforce, since anglers who hook great whites could say they were targeting another shark or fish species. And sometimes they were. Read Next: How to Cook a Great White Shark (And Get in Serious Trouble For It) By banning land-based shark fishing entirely along the sections of coastline where great white sharks are most abundant, officials have effectively closed that regulatory loophole. (Anglers can still surf fish for other species, as long as they're not using metal or wire leaders.) The active ban stretches from the northernmost point of Plymouth Beach down to Cape Cod and around the Outer Cape, including all of Chatham Harbor and Monomoy Island. The coastal areas around South Cape and the Islands — which are known to hold fewer great whites but are home to other, legally catchable shark species — are excluded from the ban. The approved regulations mirror some of the stricter rules that have been enacted in other coastal states, where shark fishing from shore is becoming a victim of its own popularity. The huge increase in surf anglers catching and posing with sharks 'for the 'Gram' has brought a lot of unwanted attention to what was once a secretive pastime. 'Land-based shark fishing has become one of the most overblown, ego-driven gong shows in fishing' OL fishing editor Joe Cermele wrote in 2022, after a popular beach town in New Jersey banned surf-fishing for sharks during the summertime. 'All this commotion is destined to destroy the sport.' It's not just public sentiment, but public safety, that officials are concerned about, however. An incident that occurred on Cape Cod last fall is one example, and according to the Boston Herald, it is part of what precipitated the new rules that were approved by Massachusetts officials last week. The Provincetown Independent reports that on Sept. 28 2024, there was a confrontation between surfers and a group of land-based anglers who were allegedly targeting a great white shark on LeCount Hollow Beach. The anglers had been chumming off the beach that morning, and they used a drone to send their hook, line, and bait (a dead bluefish) out over and past the surfers. The surfers called the police, claiming they saw a giant shark surface near them and that they'd gotten tangled in the anglers' lines. No charges were filed, since the anglers had their licenses and said they were fishing for bass and stingrays, but the conflict shows how land-based shark fishing done wrong can be a threat, or a perceived threat, to public safety. 'There is a large contingent of anglers on social media that are looking for that viral video of them shark fishing, particularly for white sharks,' Massachusetts DMF policy analyst Jared Silva told the Boston Herald. Read Next: Great White Shark Tales from Cape Cod's Charter Boat Captains Silva added that this is especially problematic during the summer months, when the height of tourist season coincides with peak great white shark activity around Cape Cod. Great whites have been returning in record numbers there since around 2015, and they like to hunt along the shallow beaches where both seals and humans are found. 'They can't co-exist,' Silva said, referring to beachgoers and land-based shark anglers. 'It's a huge public safety issue.'
