Robo-Jigs Catch Baby Pollock: Fishing Exemption Sought
Published Date: 4/4/2025
Notice
Summary
Fishing vessels with federal permits might get special permission to fish in areas and ways usually not allowed, thanks to a new application by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. This lets them test electronic jigging machines and keep smaller pollock for research. If you care about fishing rules, you have until April 21, 2025, to share your thoughts—this could change how fishing works and help science!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary permission to fish in closed Gulf areas
If you operate a federally permitted fishing vessel, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) applied for an Exempted Fishing Permit that would allow one participating vessel to enter and fish inside the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area and the Cashes Ledge Closure Area for research between 05/01/2025 and 04/30/2026. The project would authorize up to 30 trips (up to 60 total days) in statistical areas 513, 514, and 515 to collect samples and catch data.
Allowed retention of sublegal pollock for research
If you participate in the GMRI study, the EFP would exempt vessels from the minimum pollock total length rule of 19 inches, allowing retention of sublegal pollock for biological sampling and tagging. The project seeks at least 50 tagged pollock per area per season and specifies that every 10th pollock would be tagged and measured according to the Vessel Electronic Monitoring Plan.
Pilot use of electronic jigging (auto-jigs) gear
The EFP would allow testing of electronic jigging machines (auto-jigs) and rod-and-reel gear as an ultra-low impact method in the Gulf of Maine Closure Areas. The project would deploy up to 4 auto-jigs and 2 rod-and-reels at a time (maximum 32 hooks) with hook sizes from 8/0 to 14/0, up to 4 sets per trip of about 3 hours each, and use electronic monitoring for discard and sampling protocols.
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