Surface Gillnet Restrictions

(1) Tending Requirement. Fishermen setting or fishing surface gillnets shall remain within 200 feet of the net at all times. (2) Gear Specifications. (a) Floatation. Surface gillnets must have a headrope sufficiently buoyant to float at the surface. If any portion of a gillnet when fished is exposed at the water's surface then the net shall be considered a surface gillnet. (b) Marking. All buoys shall be marked with reflective tape. The holder's permit number shall be marked on all buoys and at least once every 50 feet on the headrope. Holders may burn or carve their number into floats attached to the headrope which shall measure at least ½ inch in height; alternatively if permit holders opt to mark the net with synthetic durable material, then the numbers shall be clearly visible and measure at least ¼ inch height. The net ends shall be marked with bullet-shaped buoys with a size of nine x 16 inches and clearly marked with the letters SGN and the six-digit permit number of the holder. (3) Net Dimensions. It shall be unlawful to fish more than 300 linear feet of surface gillnets at any one time. (4) Mesh Size Openings. It shall be unlawful to fish with a surface gillnet with mesh openings larger than 3¾ inches or smaller than 1f inches. (5) Area and Season Closures. (a) In addition to area and season closures in 322 CMR 4.09(2) and 322 CMR 12.04(1): Gillnet Closures in Right Whale Critical Habitat and Cape Cod Bay, it is unlawful to fish surface gillnets year-round in Buzzards Bay. (b) Southern New England Inshore Restricted Waters January1st through May15th Seasonal Closure. During January through May 15th , it is unlawful to fish surface gillnets in any Inshore Restricted Waters as defined by 322 CMR 4.02 that are south and east of Cape Cod and the Islands, including Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound. This area includes the Pleasant Bay and Nauset Harbor, including all connecting embayments. (c) Gulf of Maine Inshore Restricted Waters January 1st through May 31st Seasonal Closure. During January through May 31st , it is unlawful to fish surface gillnets in any Inshore Restricted Waters as defined by 322 CMR 4.02 that are north of Cape Cod to the New Hampshire Border. This area also includes all estuaries and embayments that drain to Cape Cod Bay. (6) Retained Species. No other species, except menhaden, sea herring, or mackerel, may be retained by fishermen using a surface gillnet.