Pages Tagged With: "fisheries"
Bring your family to a freshwater fishing pond in your county for the Delaware Youth Fishing Tournament. The tournament is held each year during National Fishing and Boating Week. The 2026 Youth Fishing Tournament is set for June 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pre-registration
The Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a public hearing on a proposal to establish a standardized total length measure for fisheries regulations.
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife manages the fish populations in over 30 public ponds across the state ranging in size from 4.8 acres (Tubmill Pond) to nearly 200 acres (Lums Pond). Largemouth Bass Delaware’s public ponds are managed for moderate densities of game fish including Largemouth Bass
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conducts juvenile abundance surveys of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Delaware River. This survey monitors population levels and evaluates spawning success rate based on the addition of newly hatched fish entering the sturgeon population.
Please report
The Striped bass, locally known as the Rockfish, is one of the most important fish species along the Atlantic Coast, supporting valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife monitors the Delaware River Striped bass population to gather important information that can be used to improve management of the Striped bass
The DNREC Fisheries Section works to enhance and protect Delaware’s fish and aquatic resources in support of recreational and commercial fishing. It provides first-class fishing and boating access to Delaware’s many waterways. And it conducts fisheries research, resource monitoring and collection of biological information on marine fisheries.
The Delaware Bay hosts the world’s largest concentration of spawning horseshoe crabs. People come from all over the world to view the spawning crabs and the associated migratory shorebirds. Horseshoe crabs can be viewed on several Delaware Bay beaches and from DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center. When Spawning Occurs
The DNREC Division of Fish and wildlife provides first-class fishing and boating access to Delaware’s many waterways. Registration is now open for the 2026 Youth Fishing Tournament. The tournament is set for June 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at one freshwater fishing pond in each
Recreational fishing in Delaware requires licenses for most anglers and is governed by both state regulations promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and regional and national regulations.
Fisheries Section Menu The Fisheries
The horseshoe crab plays a prominent role in the ecology and fisheries of Delaware Bay. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife monitors Delaware’s horseshoe crab population using multiple methods. The crabs are huge feeders on marine worms and bivalves. Their eggs serve as a primary food source
Biologists from the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife keep track of the state’s fish populations. They work on Delaware’s rivers, ponds, estuaries, on the Delaware Bay and in coastal waters and study how different species are faring.
Fisheries Section Menu
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.
Fisheries Section Menu The Fisheries Section
Although many Delawareans may find them unappealing, American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) support a major fishery in Delaware. American Eel (Photo: Duane Raver, Jr.) American Eels are mostly sold live for bait and exported as a food fish. Historically, Delaware landed over 100,000 pounds of eels annually. The eels were
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a public hearing to consider comments from the public on proposed revisions to the state’s Shellfish Aquaculture regulations.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing rulemaking that considers changes to the effort controls and related regulations for the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna fishery.
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a virtual public hearing on December 21, 2023, to consider comments from the public on proposed revisions to the state’s Lobsters regulations.
The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to promulgate a new rule to implement the Comprehensive Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rule Amendment.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Delaware Horseshoe Crab Regulations.
The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife is accepting applications for leases of shellfish grounds within the defined boundaries of the shellfish growing area of the Delaware Bay that are not already under lease.
The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to implement an amendment to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries Management Plan.
National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to update fishery management plans regarding Atlantic king mackerel and Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel.
Federal consistency determinations have been submitted for an amendment to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan and for a plan to dredge the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.
A fish kill is a sudden, unexpected die-off of fish in a specific location. It is important to report fish kills right away. Evidence dissipates quickly; delays can make it harder to determine the cause.
Signs of a Fish Kill: Dead
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to implement changes to the American lobster fishery in Federal waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
Delaware has received nearly $3 million in relief funding from the federal government to distribute to eligible saltwater fishery-related businesses affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Applications for relief funds were accepted through March 17, 2022.
DNREC Fisheries Section 89
The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to update the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan using the best information available by revising quota allocations and management procedures.
The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to conduct Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan to allow for more controlled access to the scallop resource and increase monitoring to support a growing directed scallop fishery in Federal waters.
You can help DNREC research and manage the local population of Atlantic sturgeon, a rare and endangered fish. Simply use our reporting form to let us know of any interactions you have with this fish.
The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to modify commercial and recreational management measures in the directed and incidental bluefin tuna fisheries in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
The National Marine Fisheries Services is proposing to promulgate a rule that would increase the commercial quota for Atlantic migratory group cobia.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) proposes to promulgate a new rule to implement an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic. It also proposes amendments to the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife issues permits to collect protected wildlife, finfish, shellfish or their nests or eggs for scientific, education or propagating purposes. Permits are issued for up to one year and may require review and approval from a relevant taxa project leader. [column md=”6″ xclass=”col-xs-12 col-lg-5
Over 20 years, Delaware has recycled more than two million tons of rock, 100,000 tons of concrete, 86 tanks and armored personnel carriers, 1,329 retired subway cars and 27 retired vessels to create new, artificial reefs.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to use an emergency rule under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region to increase the recreational bag limit for Atlantic king mackerel in federal waters.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to adjust the current regulations for North Atlantic swordfish and shark retention limits for certain permit holders in U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean waters, including modifying retention limits and adding regulatory criteria for in season adjustment of retention limits.
The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to adopt Amendment 21 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to establish updated Summer Flounder commercial quota allocations.
The Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Tidal Finfish regulations to include a new section on Cobia (Rachycentron canadum).
The Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a public hearing (Docket #2019-R-F-0026) on on February 26, 2020, on proposed revisions to the regulations governing Striped Bass Spawning Seasons and Area Restrictions.
The 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,
The Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament includes awards for catching and releasing eligible species. The Live Release Award is open to both adult and youth anglers.
Sport Fishing Tournament Menu Tournament Home Tournament Rules
Delaware state law establishes several councils to advise the Director of Fish and Wildlife on matters relating to fisheries, recreational fishing, wildlife and hunting, and shell fisheries. The Division is also part of the Delaware Native Species Commission. Advisory Council on Wildlife and
Division of Fish & Wildlife is informing interested parties that shellfish grounds are available for lease, located in the Delaware Bay, south of the East Line and North of the Murderkill River.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has proposed amendments to Delaware’s shellfish regulations to add Jonah Crab and to make changes to the Lobster fishing regulations.
