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2023 Northeast Experimental On-Demand Gear System Testing Launched
For regular updates on study activity, February 1 to April 30, bookmark this site.
On-demand (ropeless) lobster pot gear on the deck of a commercial fishing vessel
Overview
In August 2022, our science center received an exempted fishing permit allowing up to 100 vessels at a time to help test and improve on-demand gear systems. This effort continues and expands our trials of these systems, which we have been developing with fishermen. On-demand systems remove the vertical line in the water column to reduce the risk of large whale entanglement in American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries.
Between February 1 and April 30, we will be collaborating with up to 30 federally permitted commercial trap/pot vessels to test on-demand (also called ropeless) fishing gear in federal waters that are closed to fishing with static vertical lines. The permit allows participating vessels to test alternatives to static vertical lines in two of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Restricted Areas.
The specific goals are to:
Demonstrate successful retrievals of multi-trap trawls using proven acoustic releases on a variety of experimental on-demand components
Collect additional operational data on fishing without static vertical lines, gear location awareness, operational efficiency, cloud storage, and data sharing
Assess and improve the ease and accuracy of data collection
Provide feedback and recommendations to on-demand gear manufacturers and others in related industries, such as database developers and those working on geolocation technologies, who can use this information to improve and increase performance of their products under commercial fishing conditions
Testing Methods
To test viability of on-demand gear, participating vessels will fish up to 10 trawls each using on-demand gear. They will fish within federal waters of the South Island Restricted Area and the Massachusetts Restricted Area while these areas are otherwise closed to gear that use vertical lines. During this time, on-demand trap/pot gear set on the bottom will not be marked at the water’s surface, because on-demand gear does not have surface buoys.
Chart showing the portions of restricted areas where fully on-demand gear systems may be tested from February 1 through April 30, 2023. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
We are also testing gear marking systems that use GPS points or alternative subsurface markings for relocation and to ensure other vessels in the area know gear is present on the bottom. To visualize the gear positions and orientations of trawls, interested mariners can purchase and download the EdgeTech Trap Tracker app on the Apple or Google Play app stores with any smartphone or tablet. This app will allow users to "see" gear within 5 nm of the set.
We’ve added some protocols to reduce the risks of gear conflicts. Vessels participating in this research will also fly this flag so other vessels and enforcement authorities can recognize them.
Image
Flag to be flown by vessels while participating in this research. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Megan Amico
Project Activity Updates
We will provide regular updates here on the number of vessels participating, the number of on-demand hauls they complete, and the estimated amount of catch retained (pounds) by these vessels.
This table will be updated regularly as the project progresses.
Massachusetts Restricted Area
South Island Restricted Area
Totals
Date of Update
Number of Vessels
Number of On-Demand Hauls to Date
Number of Vessels
Number of On-Demand Hauls to Date
Number of Vessels
Number of On-Demand Hauls to Date
3/17/2023
5
60
5
17
10
77
3/22/2023
5
112
5
63
10
175
3/27/2023
5
118
5
68
10
186
4/10/2023
5
137
5
82
10
219
4/17/2023
5
216
5
82
10
298
4/26/2023
6
257
5
93
10
350
Using the Results
Our short-term goal is to support deployment of on-demand gear systems in circumstances that minimize the potential for gear conflict while allowing fishing to continue. We are committed to working with stakeholders to achieve such a result.
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. NOAA Fisheries is also committed to working with fishery management authorities to consider the regulatory changes needed to allow the use of on-demand fishing gear without an exempted fishing permit.
In July 2022, NOAA Fisheries issued a draft strategy, Ropeless Roadmap: A Strategy to Develop On-Demand Fishing (PDF, 20 p). Our strategy describes the current state of on-demand fishing and outlines a path for increasing adoption of this technology in commercial fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean to guide how we approach the development of on-demand gear in the coming months and years. We recognize that there are many partners who are key to this process and strategy, particularly state fishery managers. We invite the public and our stakeholders to provide input on this document and our ongoing on-demand fishing research program.
Next Steps
Looking forward, in 2023 we will be working with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, states, the fishing industry and other partners on a number of initiatives to innovate, demonstrate and accelerate opportunities around on demand fishing. We are interested in applying what we learn from recent efforts to increase the scope and effectiveness of on-demand gear.
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.
View over the stern of the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, exiting the Cape Cod Canal headed east toward Provincetown, Mass. at the beginning of Leg 3 of the 2021 Northeast Fisheries Science Center fall bottom trawl survey. The two bridges spanning the canal are used by trains (background) and vehicle traffic (foreground). Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Katelyn Depot.
The Fishadelphia team. Credit: Dr. Talia Young.
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.
View over the stern of the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, exiting the Cape Cod Canal headed east toward Provincetown, Mass. at the beginning of Leg 3 of the 2021 Northeast Fisheries Science Center fall bottom trawl survey. The two bridges spanning the canal are used by trains (background) and vehicle traffic (foreground). Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Katelyn Depot.