Small Mesh Exemption Areas 1 and 2
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. These are two small-mesh exemption areas primarily designed for the whiting fishery, but some other species may be possessed or landed incidentally as well.
Area
Small Mesh Areas 1 and 2 (as seen above) are defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated below:
| Small Mesh Area 1 | |
|---|---|
| N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
| 43°03’ | 70°27’ |
| 42°57’ | 70°22’ |
| 42°47’ | 70°32’ |
| 42°45’ | 70°29’ |
| 42°43’ | 70°32’ |
| 42°44’ | 70°39’ |
| 42°49’ | 70°43’ |
| 42°50’ | 70°41’ |
| 42°53’ | 70°43’ |
| 42°55’ | 70°40’ |
| 42°59’ | 70°32’ |
Note: Portions of Small Mesh Area 1 fall within the state jurisdictions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. When fishing in state waters, a federally permitted vessel is subject to the more restrictive of federal or state regulations.
| Small Mesh Area 2 | |
|---|---|
| N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
| 43°05.6’ | 69°55’ |
| 43°10.1’ | 69°43.3’ |
| 42°49.5’ | 69°40’ |
| 42°41.5’ | 69°40’ |
| 42°36.6’ | 69°55’ |
| 43°05.6’ | 69°55’ |
Note: Portions of Small Mesh Area 2 are affected by Inshore Closure Areas and are thus closed during these time periods.
Seasons
Small Mesh Area 1: July 15 – November 15.
Small Mesh Area 2: January 1 – June 30.
Gear
Trawl vessels are required to use a raised footrope trawl when fishing in Small Mesh Areas 1 and 2, depending on the species of fish targeted. A description of the raised footrope trawl can be found in the 'Commercial Fishing' section of either red hake or silver hake species pages.
Possession Limits
- Red Hake: 3,000 lb
- Whiting (Silver hake and offshore hake combined) possession limit is dependent on the mesh size being fished:
- Mesh < 3.0 inches: 15,000 lb
- Mesh ≥ 3.0 inches: 30,000 lb
Note: Possession limits may be reduced to 2,000 lb for whiting and 400 lb for red hake if the in-season possession limit triggers are reached.
Additional Incidental Species Allowed
While fishing in these exemption areas, vessels may not fish for, possess on board, or land any species of fish other than small-mesh multispecies (hakes) and the following species as incidental catch:
- Butterfish;
- Spiny dogfish;
- Atlantic herring;
- Atlantic mackerel;
- Scup; and
- Squid.
Transiting
When transiting the Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank Regulated Mesh Areas (RMA), any nets with a mesh size smaller than the RMA minimum mesh size must be stowed and unavailable for immediate use.