NOAA Seeks Public Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit Application for an On-Demand Trap/Pot/Gillnet Gear Study

NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comment on an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).  The EFP would provide an exemption from federal lobster, red crab, and gillnet gear marking requirements and allow up to 180 lobster vessels and up to 20 total gillnet, red crab, and black sea bass vessels to test alternatives to static vertical lines (also referred to as on-demand or ropeless gear), including lobster trap vessels fishing up to 300 total trawls in Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Restricted Areas with no static vertical lines. more, Full details on the proposal can be found in the Federal Register Notice inside. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:31

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