2025 Northeast Experimental On-Demand Gear System Testing Underway
Watch for specially flagged vessels off Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center Gear Research Team is collaborating with 20 commercial lobster vessels in 2025. We are testing on-demand (also called ropeless) fishing gear in state and federal waters when lobster and Jonah crab fishing using static vertical lines is restricted. The experimental fishery will occur between February 1 and May 15, 2025. We conducted similar experiments in 2023 and 2024.
The fixed gear involved in this research will not be visible at the surface since it has no surface buoys.
If You Tow Up an On-Demand Unit
If you accidentally tow up an on-demand unit, do not discard it. Hold onto the unit and reach out to the Gear Research Team or call (508:495-2000).
Restricted Area Seasons
Participating vessels will fish trap trawls without any surface gear marks in the “potential restricted area testing zones.” These are the hatched areas outlined in black within the restricted areas shown on the chart.
The testing seasons within the restricted areas are as follows:
- South Island Restricted Area from February 1 to April 30, 2025
- Massachusetts Restricted Area from February 1 to May 15, 2025
2025 Restricted Area Trial Activity
Massachusetts Restricted Area (Feb 1 — May 15)
| South Island Restricted Area (Feb 1 — April 30) | Totals | ||||
| Date of Update | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date |
| 2/27/25 | 6 | 77 | 3 | 28 | 9 | 105 |
| 3/21/25 | 6 | 163 | 3 | 56 | 9 | 219 |
| 4/11/25 | 7 | 270 | 5 | 160 | 12 | 430 |
| 5/2/25 | 7 | 368 | 7 | 249 | 14 | 617 |
| 5/22/25 | 7 | 452 | 8 | 348 | 15 | 801 |
Avoiding Gear Conflict
Our gear team and participating fishermen are particularly concerned about gear conflict this winter and spring in the testing area immediately west of the Nantucket Lightship and north of the shipping channel. On-demand gear in that area is set along depth contours (approximately east-west), close to the loran 0s and 5s, and can be up to 1.75 nautical miles in length.
Vessels conducting this research during the Restricted Area seasons will be flying this gold flag:
When you are within 5 nautical miles of experimental on-demand trawls, you can “see” the gear positions and orientations on your smartphone or tablet using the free EarthRanger Buoy app. Download the app (search for ER Buoy) from the Apple or Google app stores. TimeZero users can also view the gear positions on their charts with an experimental feature in version 5. Both tools require an internet connection to work properly.
Open Area Seasons
On-demand gear is being tested year-round by approximately 50 collaborating vessels in “open season areas” noted in pink on this chart. This gear will be in a hybrid configuration, marked with standard surface gear on one end while testing ropeless gear on the other end. The buoy marked end could be on either end. Maine Department of Marine Resources and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries are also operating on-demand gear trials.
Using the Results
Our short-term goal is to work with stakeholders to support deployment of on-demand systems in circumstances that minimize the potential for gear conflict while allowing fishing to continue. Ultimately, for on-demand fishing gear to meet conservation goals for marine mammals and to support fishing on a large scale, it must move beyond an experimental stage. We are committed to working with fishery management authorities to consider the regulatory changes needed to allow fishermen to use on-demand fishing gear if they want to.
We have published a guide that outlines next steps toward bringing about wider use of on-demand gear systems.
Contacts
Media inquiries: NEFSC Comm