From 00:01 local time on December 21, 2018, through December 31, 2018, vessels fishing with midwater trawl gear may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, receive, or land more than 2,000 lb of herring in or from the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area per trip or calendar day. Vessels that have entered port before 00:01 local time on December 21, 2018, may land and sell more than 2,000 lb of herring from that trip in the closure area.
Federally permitted dealers may not receive more than 2,000 lb of herring, per trip or calendar day, from herring vessels that used midwater trawl gear in the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2018, unless the vessel enters port before 00:01 local time on December 21, 2018.
From December 21, 2018, through December 31, 2018, vessels with midwater trawl gear may transit through the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area with more than 2,000 lb of herring on board, provided it was caught outside the Cape Cod Catch Cap Closure Area and all fishing gear is stowed and not available for immediate use.
