Trap-Happy MA Fishers Dodge Vent Rules in Permit Plea
Published Date: 3/21/2025
Notice
Summary
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries wants to renew a special fishing permit that lets certain boats use traps without escape vents and go beyond usual trap limits. This helps them try new fishing methods while following the rules. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until April 7, 2025, to share them—no cost changes yet, just a chance to comment!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Ventless traps allowed for EFP vessels
If you are a federally permitted fishing vessel participating in the MA DMF 2025 Ventless Trap Survey, the exempted fishing permit (EFP) would exempt you from 50 CFR 697.21(c)(1) and (2) so you may use traps without escape vents during the project period (05/26/2025–10/31/2025). The survey alternates three vented and three ventless traps along each six-trap trawl and uses a 3-day soak.
Trap limits may be exceeded for research
The EFP would exempt participating vessels from trap limit requirements in 50 CFR 697.19(a) and (b), allowing trap limits to be exceeded during the MA DMF Ventless Trap Survey between 05/26/2025 and 10/31/2025. The project allows up to 6 vessels to make up to 70 one-day trips.
Land otherwise-protected lobsters and Jonah crabs for research
The EFP would exempt participants from multiple possession and size rules (including 50 CFR 697.20 subsections and 50 CFR 697.19(i)) to allow landing of sub-legal, oversized, v‑notched, and egg-bearing lobsters and Jonah crabs for research purposes during the survey. MA DMF staff may collect these samples to study growth and maturity.
Experimental catch cannot be sold
No catch from the experimental traps would be landed for sale during the MA DMF Ventless Trap Survey (05/26/2025–10/31/2025); all catch would be retained only temporarily for biological data collection. The survey is funded through MA DMF license fees and has been conducted annually since 2006.
Limited participants, trips, and locations
The survey would run in Statistical Areas 514 and 538 from 05/26/2025 through 10/31/2025, with up to 6 vessels making up to 70 one-day trips, each trip having 16 sets and a 3-day soak per set. Participation and exemptions apply only to those vessels and trips specified.
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Key Dates
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