2026 Northeast Experimental On-Demand Gear System Testing Beginning February 1
Watch for specially flagged vessels off Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center Gear Research Team is collaborating with 23 commercial lobster vessels in 2026. 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 April 30, 2026. In state waters north of Cape Cod it could extend until May 15. We conducted similar experiments in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
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, mark the location and contact the Gear Research Team or call (508) 495-2000.
Restricted Area Seasons
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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:
- South Island Restricted Area from February 1 to April 30, 2026
- Massachusetts Restricted Area from February 1 to April 30, 2026, but could be extended to May 15, 2026
2026 Restricted Area Trial Activity
Massachusetts Restricted Area (Feb 1 — May 15)
| South Island Restricted Area (Feb 1 — Apr 30) |
Totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Update | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date | # Vessels | # Hauls to Date |
| 2/27/26 | 6 | 68 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 70 |
| 3/30/26 | 9 | 243 | 4 | 39 | 12 | 282 |
| 4/30/26 | 8 | 490 | 6 | 109 | 14 | 595 |
| 5/28/26 | 9 | 618 | 8 | 197 | 17 | 815 |
| Final #s | 9 | 635 | 8 | 196 | 17 | 831 |
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.
On-demand research gear will be moved ahead of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area opening on April 1 to avoid areas of typical scalloping activity. On-Demand research is prohibited in Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound.
Vessels conducting this research during the Restricted Area seasons will be flying this gold flag:
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Research gear will not be surface marked, but will be marked digitally and can be viewed using the free EarthRanger Buoy app (via Google Play or Apple App Store) or select chartplotters. TimeZero users can view gear positions by turning on the experimental feature in version 5. Olex users can purchase an update to add this functionality. Stable internet is needed to view nearby gear positions in real-time. Those without internet at sea can use the EarthRanger Buoy app to download gear positions before leaving the dock. Stored positions will display when within a 5-mile radius, but will not reflect changes made after the download. Contact us to learn more, including about funding opportunities to purchase gear visualization technology. Massachusetts fishermen can also contact the Division of Marine Fisheries to discuss their on-demand gear research grant program.
Open Area Seasons
Outside of the Restricted Area season, on-demand gear is being tested year-round by approximately 50 collaborating vessels across New England (noted in pink on the chart). The gear is fished in hybrid configurations, with standard surface gear on one end and on-demand gear on the other end. Maine Department of Marine Resources and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries are also operating on-demand gear trials.
How We Use the Results
Our short-term goal is to work with industry partners 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.