



This summary provides a broad overview of the restrictions and requirements that apply to Handgear A permits. The regulations summarized here may be found at 50 CFR Part 648. Please contact the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978) 281-9315 for more information.
A Handgear A (Category HA) permit is a limited access Northeast multispecies permit that allows vessels to target groundfish using handgear.
You can only have handgear (rod and reel, tub trawl) on board the vessel. You must haul all gear by hand, and you are not allowed to use automatic jigging machines, electric reels, hydraulics, or any other power source. Vessels fishing with tub trawl gear are limited to an absolute maximum of 250 hooks; all hooks fished on tub trawls must be circle hooks at least 12/0 minimum size.
Handgear A trip limits are set annually, and mid-year adjustments can be made; we will notify you of any trip limit adjustments. For current groundfish possession limits, please see the Common Pool page. Handgear A vessels that are enrolled in a sector are not subject to the common pool possession limits for Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank cod.
If the Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank cod limit for common pool days-at-sea vessels is reduced below 300 pounds per day at sea, then the corresponding Handgear A cod trip limit will be reduced to equal the reduced days-at-sea limit. For example, if the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit for common pool days-at-sea vessels was reduced to 50 pounds per trip, the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit for Handgear A vessels would also be reduced to 50 pounds per trip.