Emergency Closure for Lobster and Jonah Crab Trap/Pot Fishery: Area Between Massachusetts Restricted Area and Massachusetts Restricted Area North for April 2022

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NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

March 1, 2022

Emergency Closure for Lobster and Jonah CrabTrap/Pot Fishery: Area Between Massachusetts Restricted Area and Massachusetts Restricted Area North for April 2022

Effective April 1 to April 30

Whale swimming near active fishing gear

Right whale near buoy lines in the wedge area in April 2021. Credit: NOAA

Lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fishermen fishing in the federal waters between the Massachusetts Restricted Area North and the Massachusetts Restricted Area must remove all trap/pot gear from this area, and may not reset trawls being actively fished, or set new trawls in this area for the period from April 1-30, 2022.

Emergency Rule Map

MRA Wedge Area Coordinates

Point

Lat

Long

MRAW1

42°39.77′

70°30′

MRAW2

42°12′

70°38.69′

MRAW3

42°12′

70°30′

MRAW4

42°30′

70°30′

MRAW1

42°39.77′

70°30′

This emergency closure is being put in place to protect right whales exiting Cape Cod Bay from becoming entangled in the dense aggregations of gear that were observed in this area in April 2021. Implementing an emergency restriction to fishing with buoy lines in this area will address a critical gap in protection where there is a particularly high chance of entanglement that was not addressed in recent modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, while long term measures are being developed.

The 2021 modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan are available on our website, including updates to approved weak inserts and weak rope.

Questions?

Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103

For information about gear requirements: John Higgins, Northeast Fisheries Liaison, 207-610-3282

For information about Take Reduction Team process and regulations: Marisa Trego, Take Reduction Team Coordinator, 978-282-8484