Commissioner Declarations
The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection has statutory and regulatory authority under several circumstances to declare and adjust closed seasons, close areas to fishing, specify conditions for operating commercial fisheries, and to establish and adjust possession and length limits. Declaration authority may be used to protect species threatened with undue depletion, to adjust harvest levels consistent with efficient management of a species, and to conform to regulations adopted under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act or by other regional management authorities such as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Following are active Commissioner Declarations establishing rules for both recreational and commercial fisheries:
2025
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length and method of taking
2024
The taking of Alewives and Blueback Herring is prohibited in Connecticut waters
D24-05 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D24-03)
D24-04 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D24-02)
D24-03 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D24-01)
D24-02 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D23-09)
D24-01 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D23-05)
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length and method of taking
2023
The taking of Alewives and Blueback Herring is prohibited in Connecticut waters
D23-09 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D23-06)
D23-07 Sturgeon, shark, and American shad regulations (supersedes D22-08)
D23-06 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D23-04)
D23-05 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D23-03)
D23-04 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D23-01)
D23-03 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D23-02)
D23-02 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D22-09)
D23-01 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D22-10)
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length and method of taking
2022
The taking of Alewives and Blueback Herring is prohibited in Connecticut waters
D22-10 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D22-07)
D22-09 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D22-06)
D22-08 Sturgeon, shark, and American shad regulations (supersedes D22-01)
D22-07 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D22-05)
D22-06 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D22-04)
D22-05 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D21-08)
D22-04 Minimum lengths, creel limits, and closed seasons for recreational fishing (supersedes D22-02)
D22-03 Lobster fall closure (note: this declaration superseded by permanent regulation 2021-027 finalized on 5/11/22)
D22-02 Minimum lengths and creel limits for recreational fishing (supersedes D21-06)
D22-01 Sturgeon, shark, and American shad regulations (supersedes D20-08)
D21-08 Commercial Fishing Regulations (supersedes D21-07)
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length and method of taking
2021
The taking of Alewives and Blueback Herring is prohibited in Connecticut waters
D21-07 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D21-05)
D21-06 Minimum lengths and creel limits for recreational fishing (supersedes D21-04)
D21-05 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D21-03)
D21-04 Minimum lengths and creel limits for recreational fishing (supersedes D21-02)
D21-03 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D20-09)
D21-02 Minimum lengths and creel limits for recreational fishing (supersedes D20-06)
D21-01 Lobster fall closure
D20-09 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D20-07)
D20-08 Sturgeon, shark, and American shad regulations
D19-04 Closed seasons for marine recreational fishing (NOTE: Closed seasons from D19-04 still in effect; all other measures superseded by subsequent declarations)
2020
The taking of Alewives and Blueback Herring is prohibited in Connecticut waters
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length and method of taking
D20-06 Minimum lengths and creel limits for recreational fishing (supersedes D20-04)
D20-07 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D20-05)
D20-05 Commercial fishing regulations (supersedes D20-03)
D20-04 Minimum lengths and creel limits for marine recreational fishing, Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites (supersedes D20-02)
D20-03 Commercial fishing regulations
D20-02 Minimum lengths and creel limits for marine recreational fishing, Enhanced Opportunity Shore Fishing Sites
D20-01 Lobster fall closure
D19-10 Sturgeon, shark, and American shad regulations
2019
The taking of Alewife and Blueback Herring in Connecticut waters is prohibited
Atlantic Salmon open season, daily creel limit, minimum length, and method of taking
2018
D18-02 Coastal Shark Recreational and Commercial Fishery Measures for 2018
D18-07 Lobster Season
D18-08 Recreational Fishery Measures for 2018
D18-09 Commercial Fisheries: Open seasons, possession limits and minimum lengths for several species
Content last updated in September 2024.