Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Monkfish Gillnet Exemption Area
Exempted fisheries allow vessels to fish for specific species without being subject to certain northeast (NE) multispecies regulations, including days-at-sea, provided the bycatch of regulated species is minimal. This is a seasonal exemption area for vessels in the monkfish fishery using gillnet gear.
![GOM GB Gillnet_0.JPG](https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/gom_gb_gillnet_0.jpg)
Area
This exemption area (as seen above) is defined by the Atlantic coastline, and straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated below:
N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
---|---|
41°35’ | 70°00’ |
42°49.5’ | 70°00’ |
42°49.5’ | 69°40’ |
43°12’ | 69°00’ |
Maine Shoreline | 69°00’ |
Season
July 1 through September 14.
Gear
Vessels fishing under this exemption are restricted to using gillnets with a minimum mesh size of 10 inches (diamond) throughout the net.
Requirements
A vessel fishing under this exemption may not fish for, possess on board, or land any species of fish other than monkfish and/or American lobster (up to 10 percent by weight of all other species on board, or 200 lobsters, whichever is less).
Note: Unless fishing exclusively in state waters, to land and possess monkfish, vessels are required to obtain a federal monkfish permit and adhere to any applicable monkfish regulations.