NOAA Permits Maine Boats to Fish Outside the Rules—Legally!
Published Date: 9/14/2026
Notice
Summary
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
EFP authorizes 2-vessel EGOM research survey
If you operate a federally permitted fishing vessel in eastern Maine, this Exempted Fishing Permit would allow 2 vessels to run an Eastern Gulf of Maine (EGOM) Sentinel Survey from October 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. The project would run 15 one-day trips (up to 40 sets per trip, up to 450 sets total) using rod-and-reel jigging; scientific staff would be aboard and no catch may be landed for sale.
Temporary permit exemptions for sampling
The EFP would exempt participating vessels from permit rules in 50 CFR 648.4(a)(1) and 648.4(a)(5)(iii) so that a lobster-permitted vessel can temporarily possess Atlantic cod and pollock for biological sampling and participating vessels can fish for and possess Atlantic mackerel for biological sampling during the survey.
Allow sampling of undersized cod and small personal landings
The EFP would exempt participating vessels from the size restriction in Sec. 648.83(a) to allow sampling of all sizes of cod and pollock during surveys and would permit landing up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of lethally sampled cod per trip for personal use. All other catch must be returned to the sea and no catch may be sold.
Waiver of DAS requirement for EFP trips
The EFP would exempt a limited access Northeast multispecies Category A vessel from the requirement in Sec. 648.82(a) to use a Days-At-Sea (DAS) when conducting the authorized EFP-related activities, so the vessel may conduct the survey without using a DAS.
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Key Dates
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