NOAA seeks comments on exempted lobster and Jonah crab research fishing permit
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
Allows NOAA to consider a research fishing permit that would let up to 20 federally permitted vessels use modified ventless traps for lobster and Jonah crab data collection in Lobster Management Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4. The project would run from July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, and is meant to collect data on juvenile lobster and Jonah crab abundance, distribution, size, sex, eggs, shell condition, and related biological indicators. The permit would waive selected federal rules on gear specifications, trap limits, trap tags, and possession restrictions so crews can sample undersized, egg-bearing, and other protected specimens, then return them to the ocean. Fishing businesses are affected only if they participate, but other fishery stakeholders may comment by May 19, 2026, by emailing NMFS with the subject line “CFRF Ventless Trap EFP.” Comments may become public, including personal or business information submitted voluntarily.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Opens a public comment period on a proposed exempted fishing permit for lobster and Jonah crab research.
- Would allow up to 20 vessels to use up to 60 modified ventless traps across Lobster Management Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- Would temporarily waive selected gear, trap limit, trap tag, and possession rules for sampling, with sampled animals returned to the ocean.
Obligations
What this law requires
Interested parties wishing to comment on the EFP application must submit written comments to NMFS by email at [email protected] and include the subject line “CFRF Ventless Trap EFP.”
A commenter who wants to remain anonymous must enter “anonymous” as the signature when submitting a comment.
If the EFP is approved, participating vessels may conduct only fishing activity within the scope of the exempted fishing activity; any fishing activity outside that scope is prohibited.
If the EFP is approved, each participating vessel must limit its modified ventless research gear to 3 modified traps, with no more than 60 modified traps used across the project.
If the EFP is approved, each modified trap used without a federal trap tag must have the participating fisherman’s identification attached.