Rule-Bending Fishing Gear: NOAA Considers Special Permits
Published Date: 3/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reviewing a special fishing permit request from the University of Rhode Island that would let certain fishing boats try new gear outside normal rules. This could help reduce unwanted catch and improve fishing methods. People have until March 24, 2026, to share their thoughts before a final decision is made.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary exemptions from catch and gear rules
NOAA is considering an Exempted Fishing Permit that would temporarily exempt participating federally permitted vessels from specific Federal rules listed at 50 CFR 648.51(b)(4)(iii), 50 CFR 648.80(h)(3)(iii)(A), 50 CFR 648.83(a)(1), 50 CFR 648.86(l), 50 CFR 648.86(g), and 50 CFR 648.88(a)(2)(i). Those exemptions would allow trialing a bycatch reduction device (a canvas kite panel on a scallop dredge) and temporarily possessing species or sizes normally prohibited so the researchers can collect catch data.
Small-scale research trips with sale of legal catch
The project would authorize two commercial fishing vessels (one primary, one backup) to make five research trips between April 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 in Statistical Area 539, with 7–12 tows per trip of about 60–90 minutes. The notice says legal scallop catch from those trips may be landed for sale under the vessels' existing permits, while incidental catch of interest will be weighed, identified, and released after data collection.
Handgear permit holders allowed temporary scallop gear use
The EFP request would allow a vessel issued a Northeast (NE) multispecies Handgear permit to use scallop gear temporarily and possess yellowtail and windowpane flounder for catch data collection during the project.
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