September 2020 Trap Gear Marking Requirements

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

 

SEPTEMBER 2020 TRAP GEAR MARKING REQUIREMENTS

 

TRAP GEAR FISHED IN WATERS INSIDE THE EXEMPTION LINE:

THREE PURPLE MARKS- 36” purple mark within top two fathoms, 12” purple mark midway, 12” purple mark at bottom of the buoy line. (No green marks allowed inside the exemption line).

 

TRAP GEAR FISHED IN WATERS IN THE SLIVER AREA (between exemption line and 3nm line):

FOUR PURPLE MARKS and ONE GREEN MARK- 36” purple mark and 6” green mark within top two fathoms, 12” purple mark at top of buoy line, 12” purple mark midway, 12” purple mark at bottom of the buoy line.

 

TRAP GEAR FISHED IN WATERS OUTSIDE THE 3nm LINE:

FOUR PURPLE MARKS and ONE GREEN MARK- 36” purple mark and 6” green mark within top two fathoms, 12” purple mark at top of buoy line, 12” purple mark midway, 12” purple mark at bottom of the buoy line.

 

DMR Regulation Chapter 75.02 –

The above information is a summary of trap gear marking requirements effective September 1, 2020.

 

Existing red mark requirements for trap gear remain legally acceptable until September 1, 2020.  By September 1, 2020 all gear must be marked with the purple and green marks referenced above. 

 

Efforts should be made to remove or eliminate red markings once purple and green markings have been implemented.

 

Please see the attached handout.

• Gear Marking Requirements Jan 15, 2020.pdf

 

~Refer to CH. 75 for the full regulation on gear requirements.

https://www.maine.gov/dmr/laws-regulations/regulations/documents/dmrchapter75_11132019.pdf 

 

 

GUIDANCE ON THE 2020 TRAP GEAR MARKING REGULATIONS

·        A 36” purple mark and a 6” green mark must be contained within the top two fathom of a buoy that is ALWAYS on the surface. The harvester may choose any buoy that is always on the surface from which to mark their gear.

·        All end lines must be marked (i.e. both ends of a trawl must be marked).

·        As it relates to the order, the top 12” purple mark can be above or below the 36” purple and 6” green mark, as long as the 36” and 6” marks are in the top two fathom from the buoy.

·        Purple rope must be marked with a purple gear mark. Purple rope of a required length (i.e. 36” or 12”) can be added to an endline of a different color to serve as a purple mark. An endline made entirely of purple rope does not count as a gear mark.

·        If a purple rope is performing a function other than a mark (i.e. a purple line to a toggle), then it isn’t a mark.

 

For additional information regarding marking and buoy configuration questions, please contact Marine Patrol.

 

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AS IT GOES TO AN INBOX THAT IS NOT MONITORED.