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NOAA Fisheries Closes Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Closure Areas to Gillnet Gear

December 16, 2019

Gillnetters fishing in Nantucket Lightship Groundfish and the Closed Area I Groundfish Closure Areas must remove gear as soon as safely possible.

Closedareas.png

In compliance with a recent Court Order, NOAA Fisheries is implementing a closure of the Nantucket Lightship and Closed Area I Groundfish Closure Areas for gillnet gear only.

The October 28, 2019, Court Order prohibits NOAA Fisheries from allowing gillnet fishing in the former Nantucket Lightship Groundfish Closure Area and the Closed Area I Groundfish Closure Areas, until NOAA Fisheries has fully complied with requirements of the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, consistent with the Opinion.

After the Order was issued, we notified gillnetters in these areas on November 1 that all gillnet gear needed to be removed from these two areas and that we would be issuing a formal rule closing these areas. This rule is effective today. All gillnetters must remove their gillnet gear from these areas as soon as possible, consistent with safe vessel operations. 

Closed Area I Coordinates
Point N. Latitude W. Longitude
CI1 41°30′ 69°23′
CI2 40°45′ 68°45′
CI3 40°45′ 68°30′
CI4 41°30′ 68°30′
CI1 41°30′ 69°23′
Nantucket Lightship Closed Area Coordinates
Point N. Latitude W. Longitude
G10 40°50′ 69°00′
CN1 40°20′ 69°00′
CN2 40°20′ 70°20′
CN3 40°50′ 70°20′
G10 40°50′ 69°00′

 

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on January 22, 2021