Where fisheries decisions actually get made
Fisheries policy is decided in three places: your state fish and wildlife agency, the Atlantic or Pacific regional fishery management councils, and the federal government through NOAA Fisheries. You can speak into each one, but the process and timing are different for each. Most people find the state level easiest to enter—your state's fish and game department holds public hearings on proposed rule changes, and you can show up or submit written comment. The regional councils (there are eight of them, covering different ocean areas) hold public meetings several times a year where commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and the public can testify about catch limits, gear rules, and habitat protection. Federal comment periods happen when NOAA proposes new regulations, usually lasting 30 to 60 days.
The key is knowing which body controls what you care about. If you fish inland—lakes, rivers, streams—your state agency makes nearly all the rules. If you fish the ocean beyond state waters, the regional council and NOAA Fisheries set the limits. If you fish in state ocean waters (usually three miles out), your state and the regional council both have a say. Understanding which level makes the decision you want to influence saves you time and makes your voice land where it matters.
Key Takeaways
- State fish and wildlife agencies hold public hearings on proposed fishing rule changes, and you can attend or submit written comment without advance registration.
- The eight regional fishery management councils meet publicly several times yearly and accept testimony from anyone, including recreational fishermen and community members.
- Federal comment periods on new NOAA Fisheries regulations typically run 30 to 60 days and accept written comment through the Federal Register website.
- Your state's fishing regulations guide lists the agency's public meeting schedule; the council's website lists meeting dates and how to register to testify.
- Written comment submitted before a deadline often carries as much weight as in-person testimony and is easier to coordinate with other fishermen.
Speaking at your state fish and wildlife agency
Start here if you fish freshwater or state ocean waters. Every state fish and wildlife agency holds public hearings before adopting new fishing regulations. These are open meetings—you do not need permission to attend. The agency posts the meeting schedule on its website, usually under a section called "Public Meetings" or "Regulations Hearings." Meetings happen in person in different regions of the state so that fishermen across the state can attend without traveling too far.
To testify, arrive early and sign up at the meeting. Most agencies give each person three to five minutes to speak. Write down what you want to say beforehand—three minutes goes fast. Focus on one or two points: why a proposed rule change matters to you, what you have observed on the water, or what you think will happen if the rule passes. Bring data if you have it (your fishing log, photos, catch records), but personal experience counts. An agency biologist cares about your observation that walleye are spawning earlier than they used to, or that you are catching fewer stripers in your usual spot.
If you cannot attend in person, submit written comment. The agency accepts these before and after the hearing, usually for 30 days. Send your comment to the address or email listed on the meeting notice. Written comment is often more useful than testimony because you can be precise, include photos or data, and the agency keeps a written record. Many fishermen coordinate: five people send similar comments from different angles, and the agency sees that the concern is real and widespread, not one person's complaint.
Testifying before a regional fishery management council
If you fish the ocean, the regional council is where commercial catch limits, recreational bag limits, and gear rules get decided. There are eight councils covering different regions: New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, North Pacific, and Western Pacific. Each council meets three to four times a year, usually for two or three days. Meetings are open to the public and held in different ports so fishermen can attend.
Find your council's website and look for the meeting schedule. Most councils list the agenda weeks in advance, so you know what will be discussed. To testify, register before the meeting—the deadline is usually one to two weeks before the meeting date. Registration is free. You will be assigned a time slot, typically five to ten minutes. Some councils let you testify by video call if you cannot travel.
Prepare your testimony like you would for a state hearing: write it down, keep it focused, and bring data if you have it. Council members are fishermen themselves, scientists, and state representatives—they understand the water. Tell them what you have seen, what concerns you, and what you think should happen. If you fish commercially, talk about how a rule change affects your business. If you fish for food or sport, talk about what you are catching, where, and how a proposed change would affect your fishing. The council votes on recommendations, which go to NOAA Fisheries for final approval.
Submitting comment during federal comment periods
When NOAA Fisheries proposes a new regulation—a new catch limit, a closed area, a gear restriction—it publishes the proposal in the Federal Register and opens a comment period, usually 30 to 60 days. This is your chance to tell the federal government what you think before the rule becomes final.
Find the proposal on regulations.gov. Search for "NOAA Fisheries" or the name of the fishery (for example, "Atlantic striped bass"). The Federal Register notice will explain what is being proposed and why. Read it carefully. At the bottom of the notice, there is a link to submit comment. You can comment online or by mail. Online is faster and easier—you type your comment into a form, and it is automatically added to the public record.
Write your comment as if you are writing to someone who does not fish. Explain what you do (commercial fishing, recreational fishing, selling fish), what you have observed, and how the proposed rule will affect you or the fishery. Include numbers if you have them: how many fish you typically catch, how much you sell, how many days you fish per year. If the proposal is based on science you disagree with, say so and explain why. The federal government has to read and respond to every comment, so detailed, specific comment is more likely to change a decision than a form letter.
Joining or starting a fishing advocacy group
Individual comment matters, but organized groups carry more weight. Fishing advocacy organizations—both commercial and recreational—track proposed rules, coordinate comment, and testify at hearings. Some are national (like the Recreational Fishing Alliance or the American Sportfishing Association), and some are local or regional. If a group already exists for your fishery or region, join it. If not, you can start one.
A fishing advocacy group does not need to be formal. It can start as a text chain or email list of fishermen who care about the same fishery. When a hearing is coming or a comment period opens, you coordinate: one person writes a detailed comment, others adapt it and submit their own, someone attends the hearing and testifies. The group amplifies individual voices without requiring anyone to do all the work alone.
If you want to formalize the group—register it as a nonprofit, apply for 501(c)(3) status—that takes time and money. But you do not need to do that to be effective. A group of ten fishermen who show up at a council meeting and testify about the same issue will be remembered. A group that submits twenty detailed written comments will influence a decision.
Understanding what happens after you comment
After a hearing or comment period closes, the agency or council does not immediately make a decision. They read the comment, discuss it in a meeting, and then vote. For state agencies, this usually happens within a few weeks. For regional councils, the council votes, then NOAA Fisheries reviews the recommendation and decides whether to approve it—that can take months. For federal comment periods, NOAA publishes a final rule and a summary of the comment it received, explaining why it did or did not change the proposal.
You will not always win. A rule you opposed might pass anyway. But your comment becomes part of the official record. If the rule causes problems later, or if someone challenges it in court, your comment is evidence that the agency heard concerns and chose to proceed anyway. That matters. And if your comment is part of a larger pattern—many fishermen saying the same thing—it often does change the outcome. Agencies and councils want to make rules that work, and they listen to people who fish.
Finding meeting schedules and comment deadlines
Each state fish and wildlife agency posts its meeting schedule on its website. Search "[your state] fish and wildlife public meetings" or look for a "Regulations" or "Public Hearings" section. The schedule usually lists dates, times, locations, and what will be discussed.
Regional council websites list meeting dates, agendas, and registration deadlines. Find your council at fisherycouncils.org or search "[council name] fishery management council." Most councils email a meeting notice to anyone who signs up for their mailing list—that is the easiest way to stay informed.
Federal comment periods are published in the Federal Register at federalregister.gov. You can search by agency (NOAA Fisheries) or by fishery name. You can also sign up for email alerts so you are notified when a new proposal is published. The notice always states when the comment period closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a commercial fisherman to testify at a council meeting?
No. Regional councils welcome testimony from recreational fishermen, fishing guides, people who buy fish, and anyone else with a stake in the fishery. You do not need a commercial license or any special status. Register to testify the same way anyone else does.
What if I miss the comment deadline?
Once a comment period closes, the agency stops accepting new comment for that proposal. However, you can still attend a public hearing and testify in person, or you can comment on the next related proposal. If a rule is controversial, there are often multiple opportunities to comment as it moves through the process.
Can I submit comment anonymously?
Most agencies and councils accept anonymous written comment, though some ask for your name and address. Check the comment instructions for the specific proposal. In-person testimony usually requires your name because you are speaking publicly, but written comment can often be submitted without identifying yourself.
How do I know if my comment actually influenced a decision?
When an agency publishes a final rule, it publishes a summary of the comment it received and explains how it responded. Search the Federal Register or your state agency's website for the final rule notice. It will say something like "We received 200 comments opposing the catch limit reduction. We considered these comments and decided to proceed because..." That is how you see whether your comment was heard.
What if I disagree with a rule after it passes?
You can petition the agency to reconsider it, or you can wait for the next review cycle—most fishing rules are revisited every few years. You can also join a legal challenge if a group decides to sue. But the most practical route is to document how the rule is not working (keep records, take photos, note what you are catching), and use that data in the next comment period to argue for a change.