Emergency Closure for Trap/Pot Fisheries: Area Between Massachusetts State Waters and Federal Waters within the Massachusetts Restricted Area for February 1- April 30, 2023

January 31, 2023

Fishermen must remove all trap/pot gear from this area by February 1 and not set new gear in this area before May 1, 2023

Bulletin |

New England/Mid-Atlantic

| New England

Trap/pot fishermen fishing in the federal waters within the Massachusetts Restricted Area Wedge must remove all trap/pot gear from this area, and may not reset trawls being actively fished, or set new trawls in this area for the period from February 1- April 30, 2023.

Map of wedge closure area between MRA and MRA North — Emergency closure for trap/pot fisheries

MRA Wedge Area Coordinates
Point	Lat	Long
MRAW1	42°39.77′	70°30′
MRAW2	42°12′	70°38.69′
MRAW3	42°12′	70°30′
MRAW4	42°30′	70°30′
MRAW1	42°39.77′	70°30′

This emergency rule addresses the risk created by this open wedge when large numbers of right whales are exiting Cape Cod Bay at the same time and place where fishermen are either fishing or may be staging their trap/pot fishing gear in preparation for the May 1 opening of federal waters in the Massachusetts Restricted Area. We implemented a similar emergency rule in April 2022, and are doing so again at the request of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The 2021 modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan are available on our website, including updates to approved weak inserts and weak rope.