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January 24, 2022
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Starting May 1, 2022, the 2021 modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Reduction Plan will go into effect for the Northeast Lobster/Jonah crab trap/pot fishery. We first announced these modifications to the Plan on August 31, 2021. These modifications are expected to reduce mortalities and serious injuries from incidental entanglement in U.S. fishing gear to critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, as well as humpback whales and fin whales.
What are the new requirements?
- Currently, there are several ropes approved for use as weak rope, as listed on our web page. We continue to test ropes and anticipate frequent updates to the web page as new rope is approved.
- The approved three-strand ropes can be spliced into traditional buoy ropes to create inserts, or they can be used to replace standard rope as weak rope.
- Visit our web page for tutorial videos on how to install the weak inserts using splices and tucks to insert the approved three-strand ropes.
- The approved braided ropes can be used as full weak rope (but not inserts) connected to your regular line using a knot at the depth required for your fishing area (the depth of your lowest required weak insertion or the proportion of your rope required to be weak).
- To be approved, ropes must be broken 10 times on a calibrated breaking machine, and the average breaking strength must be 1,700 lbs or below.
- If weak rope is approved that includes the state color (red for Massachusetts, gray/silver for Rhode Island, yellow for New Hampshire, and purple for Maine), the rope may be used to satisfy both state gear marking and weak insertion or weak rope requirements. Please check gear marking requirements for state and federal permit holders. These are also available in state guides linked above.
- Federal green gear marks are required for federal permit holders. The solid green mark required within two fathoms of the buoy may be applied using dye, paint, tape, heat-shrink tubing, or insertion of a colored rope or braided sleeve. The green marks below the surface system in the buoy line are not required to be solid, and may be marked using dye, paint, tape, heat-shrink tubing, zip ties, bicolored rope in state colors, spliced in insertion of a colored or bicolored rope or braided sleeve or other material, or a thin line woven into or through the line.
Where can I get weak inserts and weak rope?
- Fishermen from any state may use any approved weak rope to create weak inserts for buoy lines using a variety of approved splices. Tutorial videos about how to install these splices in buoy lines are available on our website.
- For Massachusetts fishermen, ⅜” red/white “candy cane” and red weak rope manufactured by Rocky Mount Cordage Company are available through Ketchum Trap in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This rope can be used to satisfy requirements for weak inserts, weak rope, and gear marking.
- For Rhode Island fishermen, a ⅜” white rope with a gray tracer manufactured by Neocorp is available from Brooks Trap Mill (ME/RI). This rope can be used to satisfy requirements for weak rope, and gear marking.
- Rocky Mount Cordage Company is developing additional state-specific three-strand colored ropes. Once these ropes are demonstrated to effectively break at 1,700 lbs or less, they will be approved for use as weak inserts, weak line, and state-specific gear marks in accordance with the gear marking requirements.
- Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island received funds to help fishermen comply with the regulations. Some states have ordered or are ordering rope and links, and some have rope and links on hand to help create weak inserts. Call or email your state contact listed below for more information.
- Some distributors ask that you place orders 4-8 weeks in advance.
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In-line links that break below 1,700 lbs can be ordered from Seaside Rope in Warren, Maine. Additional manufacturers are developing and testing weak links, some expected to be available at the end of January. For updates on these links, please revisit the web page regularly or contact John Higgins, Northeast Fisheries Liaison, at the number below.
- The Greater Atlantic Region gear team has been meeting with different manufacturers about the new requirements, and they are testing rope as quickly as possible once received. Please check the web page frequently for updates on approved ropes.
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Questions?
State Contacts
Maine: Lobster.DMR@maine.gov
New Hampshire: Renee Zobel, (603) 868-1095, renee.zobel@wildlife.nh.gov
Massachusetts: Bob Glenn, (508) 742-9746, robert.glenn@state.ma.us
Rhode Island: Scott Olszewski, (401) 423-1934, scott.olszewski@dem.ri.gov
Federal Waters and General Gear Contacts
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