Northeast Multispecies Closed Area Regulations

Maps should be read in conjunction with one another to gain a complete picture of the closed areas in Northeast Multispecies fishery. The regulations summarized here may be found at 50 CFR 648.81, § 648.370, and.§ 648.371.  

Closed Area Information

Maps, coordinates, and summaries of regulations and requirements for each closed area are linked below, sorted by Regulated Mesh Area.

Gulf of Maine

• Western Gulf of Maine Groundfish Closure and Habitat Areas
• Cashes Ledge Groundfish Closure and Habitat Areas
• Eastern Maine and Jeffreys Bank Habitat Management Areas
• Gulf of Maine Cod Protection Closures
• Seasonal Closure Areas
• Inshore Restricted Roller Gear Area

Georges Bank and Southern New England

• Georges Bank Dedicated Habitat Research Area, Closed Area II, Gillnet Closure Areas, and Great South Channel
• Seasonal Closure Areas
• Restricted Gear Areas

Transiting Closed Areas and Gear Stowage

Transiting

Transiting means traveling from a point outside the closed area to another open area, or to port, or from port to an area outside the closed area.  A vessel may transit Northeast multispecies closed areas provided that any prohibited gear is stowed in accordance with the regulations. 

Gear Stowage Requirements

Fishing gear must be stowed and not available for use when:

• Transiting a closed area
• Transiting from port to a scallop access area, or from a scallop access area to port
• Transiting an area with mesh size restrictions
• When in possession of a species that require use of a larger mesh than the stowed gear

Trawl Gear

Below deck:

• The net is stored below the main working deck from which the net is deployed and retrieved; and
• The net is fan-folded (flaked) and bound around its circumference

On deck storage:

• The net is fan-folded (flaked) and bound around its circumference
• The net is securely fastened to the deck or rail of the vessel; and
• The towing wires, including the leg wires, are detached from the net.

On reel stowage for transiting seasonal closure areas:

• The net is secured and the entire surface of the net is covered with canvas or other similar opaque material or highly visible orange or yellow mesh material that is securely bound; and
• No containment rope, codend tripping device, or other mechanism to close off the codend is attached to the codend.

On-reel stowage for transiting the year-round closure areas:

• The net is secured and the entire surface of the net is covered with canvas or other similar opaque material or highly visible orange or yellow mesh material that is securely bound; and
• The codend is removed and stored below deck.

Scallop Dredge

• The towing wire is detached from the scallop dredge and the towing wire is completely reeled up onto the winch, the dredge is secured, and the dredge or the winch is covered so that it is rendered unusable for fishing; or
• The towing wire is detached from the dredge and attached to a bright-colored poly ball no less than 24 inches in diameter; and
• The towing wire is left in its normal operating position and is either wound back to the hanging block or suspended at the end of the lifting block where it is readily visible from above.

Hook Gear

• All anchors and buoys are secured and all hook gear, including jigging machines, is covered.

Sink Gillnet Gear

• All nets are covered with canvas or other similar material and lashed or otherwise securely fastened to the deck or rail, and all buoys larger than 6 inches in diameter, high flyers, and anchors are disconnected.