Commercial fishing in the state of Delaware requires proper licensure and, in some cases, permits. Some fisheries have established quotas. And there are reporting requirements that must be met.

Delaware jointly manages the fisheries for migratory species that are mainly found in state waters with the other Atlantic Coast states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a compact of the states created in 1942 to manage such fisheries.

The DNREC Division Fish and Wildlife provides summaries of Commercial Finfish Regulations and Commercial Shellfish Regulations. While the summaries are useful, it is important to also review the relevant regulations, and the state laws they are based on.

Commercial Fishing Report Forms

Delaware law (7 Del.C. §§914 and 1910) requires commercial fishermen to submit monthly reports to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. The forms below are fillable PDF forms. Please save them to your hard drive and use the free Adobe Acrobat reader to complete them and save a completed copy to submit.

Horseshoe Crabs

Delaware’s Horseshoe Crab regulations (7 DE Admin. Code 3200) protect horseshoe crabs and the birds that depend on their eggs while still allowing a limited harvest. The state balances conservation and commercial interests, benefiting the economy while ensuring the continued proliferation of an iconic species.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission sets annual, state-by-state quotas for Horseshoe Crab harvests, based on scientific data and modeling. Delaware’s quota for 2025 is 173,014.

Harvest in Delaware is restricted to male horseshoe crabs. Anyone taking them must have a permit from DNREC. Harvesting begins on June 8, and dredging is prohibited until August. No permit holder can take more than 3,000 crabs in a single day.

Unlike some states, Delaware only allows harvesting for bait and has not issued any permits for individuals or entities seeking to collect horseshoe crabs for biomedical purposes.

The violation of any laws and regulations around horseshoe crabs is a misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and/or a jail sentence of up to 30 days, with penalties increasing for repeated offenses.

Striped Bass and Black Sea Bass

The regulations governing commercial fishing for striped bass and black sea bass are found in sections 3502 to 3507 of the Tidal Finfish regulations (7 DE Admin. Code 3500). The regulations specify seasons, quotas and methods of taking these fish.

The Department maintains a list of striped bass weigh stations commercial anglers can use to weigh their catch.

Oysters

Under state regulations, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife sets an annual oyster harvesting season and quota, based on an annual survey of natural oyster beds.

The 2025 oyster season is in two parts: April 1 through May 31 and September 1 through December 31. The total quota for the fishery in 2025 is 13,037 bushels.

Shellfish Aquaculture

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife makes acreage in the Inland Bays available for leases for shellfish aquaculture.

Leases are available for lands within defined Shellfish Aquaculture Development Areas (SADA), which have expedited state and federal permitting processes, and outside of these areas.

For leases outside of the SADAs, applicants will need to contact and apply for proper permitting through DNREC’s Wetlands and Waterways Section and with the Philadelphia District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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