Special Permits Sought for Gentle Fishing Gear Science Trials
Published Date: 4/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute wants special permission to try out new fishing gear that’s super gentle on the ocean and helps collect important fish data. This could let some fishing boats break usual rules for a bit, but only to help science. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 28, 2026—this could shape how fishing rules evolve and support smarter, safer fishing.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Keep sublegal fish for research
If you operate the participating federally permitted fishing vessel, the EFP would let that vessel retain sublegal pollock and undersized Atlantic cod for biological sampling between May 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027. The project plans 20 trips (40 total days), seeks at least 150 tagged pollock and 50 cod fin clips, and specifies that no sub-legal fish will be sold.
Fish inside GOM closed areas
The EFP would exempt the participating vessel from area closures, allowing research fishing inside the Cashes Ledge Closure Area and the Western Gulf of Maine (GOM) Closure Area (statistical areas 513, 514, and 515) during the project period (May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027). The project plans up to 20 trips with fishing effort possibly occurring in both closed and open areas on the same trip.
Authorized use of auto-jigs and compensation
The EFP would allow the participating vessel to deploy electronic jigging machines (up to four auto-jigs and two rod-and-reel) and use electronic monitoring (EM) under its Sector Operations Plan for research trips starting May 1, 2026. The notice states GMRI will compensate the F/V Lady Rebecca for sampled pollock, and the project anticipates 20 trips with sets lasting about 3 hours.
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