Cape Cod Crews Want Fishing Free-Pass for Oddball Tactics
Published Date: 3/21/2025
Notice
Summary
The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance wants special permission to fish in ways usually not allowed by federal rules. This could help certain fishing boats try new methods and support local fishing businesses. People have until April 7, 2025, to share their thoughts before a final decision is made.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Small boats may use smaller clam containers
The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance applied for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to let small day-boat vessels land Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs in smaller containers and use 16-bushel tag denominations instead of the standard 32-bushel tags. The request would convert up to 1,500 32-bushel ocean quahog tags and up to 1,000 32-bushel surfclam tags to 16-bushel tags and allow use of a 16-bushel fish vat (16 bushels = 0.56 m3) or pallets of ten 1.5-bushel totes (1.5 bushels = 0.05 m3), with vats/tote-pallets limited to no more than 1,424 pounds each.
Limited EFP scope: 5 vessels, specific trip limits
If approved, the EFP would authorize five vessels to operate in Federal waters around Cape Cod (Statistical Areas 521, 514, 526, 537, and 538) through December 31, 2025, conducting up to 195 one-day trips (195 total days) with 30–40 tows per trip (up to 7,800 total tows). The project start is upon issuance and the project end date is 12/31/2025.
Data, tagging, and reporting requirements for participants
Participating fishermen must complete a data sheet for each EFP trip with price-per-bushel and weight for each landing increment, and landings will be verified with dealer reports; processors will provide data on clam condition and annual surveys will measure project impacts. Weight samples will be taken and tags will be converted in coordination with NMFS and the National Band and Tag Company.
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