Fish Weir Buffer Zone

(1) Purpose. Unlike mobile fishing gear that is used in active pursuit of fish or fixed gear such as fish pots or gillnets that can be moved to follow migrating fish, weirs, authorized by M.G.L. c. 130, § 29 and set in coastal waters with permission of appropriate cities or towns, are completely stationary and dependent on fish coming to them. Since fish tend to follow the weir's leader to the head (heart and bowl), they become concentrated and attract other fishermen to the weir where fish are available and more easily caught. This use of the weir's fish-attracting traits by other fishermen; for example, by fishing in the bowl or heart or alongside the leader, can interfere with the weir's operation and/or success and cause conflicts on the water between weir and other fishermen. Consequently, to avoid these conflicts, a reasonable buffer zone within which no person may conduct commercial or recreational fishing, except the weir owner or those with the owner's consent to remove fish and squid from the head(s), has been established. (2) Definitions. Buffer Zone means the area around the fish weir which is circumscribed by buoys attached to weir pole anchors. The zone's boundary around the bowl is defined by imaginary straight lines between the buoys. The zone's extension from the bowl towards shore and parallel to the leader is defined by imaginary straight lines between the buoys on either side of the bowl to buoys attached to leader pole anchors. The shoreward end of the zone is defined by an imaginary straight line between the leader pole anchor buoys 500 feet from the first leader pole at the entrance to the weir's heart. When a weir has two heads, the zone extends the entire distance from the most seaward head to leader pole buoys 500 feet shoreward of the first leader pole at the entrance to the most shoreward head. Commercial Fishing means fishing for purposes of sale, barter or exchange. Fish Weir (also known as pound net or fish trap) means a stationary or fixed maze of nets attached to poles anchored to the sea bed and comprised of the leader (line of poles with net attached) extending from near-shore seaward to the heart which is adjacent to the bowl where fish and squid accumulate. A weir may have two heads each with a heart and bowl. Fishing means to harvest, catch or take or attempt to harvest, catch or take any fish or squid. Recreational Fishing means fishing for purposes of personal or familyuse by angling or hook and line. (3) Marking (a) Weirs with one head shall have anchors marked on the surface by buoys tied to the end of anchor lines of the most seaward pole of the bowl and of the poles on both sides of the bowl. The shoreward extension of the zone along and parallel to the leader shall be marked on the surface by buoys tied to the anchor at the end of anchor lines on both sides of the leader 500 feet from the leader pole at the entrance to the heart. (b) Weirs with two heads shall have anchors marked on the surface by buoys tied to the end of the anchor line of the most seaward pole of the most seaward bowl and tied to the ends of anchor lines of the poles on both sides of the two heads' bowls. The shoreward extension of the zone along and parallel to the leader shall be marked on the surface by buoys tied to the anchor at the end of anchor lines on both sides of the leader 500 feet from the leader pole at the entrance to the most shoreward head's heart. (c) All buoys shall be 12 inches diameter, orange, inflated balls marked with the weir number assigned by DMF. A weir with one head shall be marked with five buoys. A weir with two heads shall be marked with seven buoys. (4) Prohibition. It is prohibited for any person to conduct commercial or recreational fishing within the buffer zone except the weir owner and those with the owner's consent to remove fish and squid from the bowl(s). (5) Maximum Buffer Zone Width. (a) The maximum distance between the anchor line buoys and the weir poles of the bowl shall be 150 feet. (b) The maximum distance between the anchor line buoys and the weir poles of the leader shall be 200 feet.