Scientists Test Glow-in-Dark Fishing Gear Minus Extra Buoys
Published Date: 10/13/2026
Notice
Summary
Fishing vessels with federal permits might get special permission to try new fishing gear that’s easier to spot and uses fewer buoys. This lets scientists test better ways to fish without breaking current rules. If you care about fishing, you’ve got until October 28, 2026, to share your thoughts—no cost changes yet, just smart testing!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Permitted vessels may trial ropeless gear
NOAA may grant an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that lets federally permitted fishing vessels test on-demand (ropeless) and reduced-buoy systems by temporarily exempting certain Federal gear-marking rules (50 CFR 697.21(b), 648.84(b), 648.264(a)(5)). The project would allow up to 90 trap/pot vessels and up to 10 gillnet vessels, with effort caps of up to 900 modified trap trawls and up to 100 modified gillnet strings (up to 1,000 total modified trawls/strings), per-vessel modified-gear limits of up to 20 trawls/strings, and a project period from 2027-01-01 through 2027-12-31.
Special rules for Restricted Areas trials
The EFP would allow fully on-demand lobster trap trawls (no persistent vertical lines) in Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Restricted Areas but would cap participation at a total of 600 actively fished trawls in those Restricted Areas and allow vessels to modify up to 20 trawls each. NEFSC may require a demonstrated history of fishing in Restricted Areas to participate; priority may be given to seasonally excluded or offshore fishermen.
Limited grappling retrieval trials allowed
The project would permit up to 5 trap/pot vessels to use grappling to retrieve up to 20 trawls each as a low-cost alternative to acoustic on-demand systems; these grappling trials would be a subset of the 90 trap/pot vessels and 900 modified-trawl effort cap, and grappling would be prohibited in ALWTRP Restricted Areas.
Operational and safety obligations for participants
Participating vessels must complete NEFSC's three-phase training, report right whale sightings to NMFS or the U.S. Coast Guard, provide mandatory weekly gear-loss reports, operate at or below a 10-knot speed limit when transiting ALWTRP Restricted Areas or when whales are observed, and, for fully on-demand gear, share gear locations via cloud-based aggregators available to Federal/State enforcement and nearby fishermen. On-demand vertical lines will carry unique orange marks in addition to regional markings.
EFP does not replace State or other law approvals
The EFP would only exempt vessels from the specified Federal regulations in Federal waters; participating vessels would still be subject to State requirements, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and other laws, and applicants are responsible for obtaining any required State authorizations.
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