Federal Register #RTID 0648-XG118

NOAA seeks comments on proposed on-demand fishing gear research permits

NOAA is seeking comments on two proposed research permits to test on-demand fishing gear and ways to mark fishing gear locations while reducing large-whale entanglement risk. - Government buyer and applicants: U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, and NMFS through the Greater Atlantic Region. The proposals are from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF). - NEFSC proposal: Trials in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, and the Mid-Atlantic would involve up to 90 trap/pot vessels and 10 gillnet vessels, with up to 9,500 trap/pot trips and 1,000 gillnet trips. Gear includes lobster traps, deep-sea red crab pots, fish pots, and anchored fixed gillnets. Effort is capped at 900 modified trap/pot trawls and 100 modified gillnet strings; up to 600 fully on-demand lobster trawls may occur in restricted areas. - MA DMF proposal: Tests of fully ropeless lobster gear in Massachusetts seasonal restricted areas would involve up to 50 vessels, 700 trips or fishing days, and 14,000 total trap sets (up to 20 per trip). - Named OEMs and systems: Sub Sea Sonics and EdgeTech are named, along with the Guardian system. EarthRanger and rmwHub are cited as platforms for displaying gear locations. No part numbers are provided. - Notable requirements and research goals: Evaluate on-demand gear performance, reliability, safety, operational feasibility, digital gear-location marking, and avoidance of gear conflicts. The trials focus on alternatives to persistent vertical buoy lines, including acoustic releases and other on-demand approaches. - Procurement scope: These are proposed research-permit activities, not a purchase solicitation; no purchasable line items, quantities of commercial products, or contract value are stated.

Description

NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center submitted an application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to continue trials of on-demand fishing gear and test gear-marking systems. The proposed permit would allow federally permitted vessels to conduct specified fishing activities outside certain federal gear-marking regulations, including trials involving trap/pot and gillnet gear. The 2027 project would evaluate gear systems and their performance, location marking, and use in areas including the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, and the Mid-Atlantic. Comments on the application must be received by October 28, 2026.

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