Winter Flounder Spawning Area Closures

(1) Except as provided for in 322 CMR 8.04(2) and (3), the following waters shall be closed to commercial fishing for any finfish between the dates of February 1st through May 31st , in all of the waters shoreward of an area bounded by an imaginary line beginning at a point 4202.0' N latitude and 7010.2'W longitude; thence following an imaginary line to a point at 4200.7' N latitude and 7006.4'W longitude; thence following an imaginary line to a point at 4156.3' N latitude and 7005.9'W longitude; thence following an imaginary line to a point at 4148.9' N latitude and 7010.9'W longitude; thence following an imaginary line to a point at 4146.4' N latitude and 7009.8'W longitude; thence following an imaginary line to a point at 4145.1'W latitude and 7039.9'W longitude; thence following an imaginaryline drawn to Thatcher's Island Light to a point along said line where it intersects with the boundary line separating the towns of Rockport and Gloucester; thence following the Rockport/Gloucester boundary southeasterly to a point 4235.5'N, 7034.6'W; thence following an imaginary line 31 true to a point at 4237.8'N, 7032.8'W; thence following an imaginary line 360 true to a point at 4239.5'N, 7032.8'W; thence following an imaginary line 340 true to a point at 4240.8'N, 7033.5'W; thence following 314 true to a point at 4243.8'N, 7037.6'W; thence following an imaginary line in a southerly direction 193 true to a point one nautical mile from the shoreline; thence following an imaginary line drawn in such a manner that each point on it is one nautical mile from the shoreline to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire boundary. (2) Exemptions. The following fishing activities are exempted from the winter flounder spawning areas described at 322 CMR 8.04(1). (a) Sea Herring. Commercial fishing for sea herring is permitted provided that a special permit is obtained pursuant to 322 CMR 7.01(4)(a): Regulated Fishery Permit Endorsement. (b) Cod. Line trawling for cod is permitted provided that only hook sizes with a gape of not less than 11/16 inch measured from the point of the hook to the inside of the shank or circle hooks (so-called) with a gape of not less than ½ inch may be used, and provided further that the area is open to groundfish as set forth in 322 CMR 8.05.