Whale-Related Gear Rules

Massachusetts state waters are important habitat for endangered large whale species, including the humpback whale and North Atlantic right whale. Entanglement in fishing gear is a major cause of injury and mortality for large whales. MarineFisheries requires the use of modified fishing gear in order to reduce the risk of whale entanglement and identify entangling gear.

For more details please see http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/weaklink.pdf

Definitions

Single: one pot with a single buoy line attached.

Double: two pot string of traps with a single buoy line attached.

Triple: three pot string of traps with a single buoy line attached.

Sinking line: a line that has a specific gravity greater than that of seawater, 1.03, and does not float up in the water column.

Weak Link: breakable section or device that will part when subjected to specified poundage of pull pressure and after parting, will result in a knot-less end, no thicker than the diameter of the line, the so-called “bitter end,” to prevent lodging in whale baleen.

Abandon or dispose of at sea: to leave fixed gear in the water without hauling it at least every 30 days or in prohibited areas during prohibited periods.

Twin orange markers: a pair of identical orange flag-like strips of material that are clearly visible and attached to the buoy stick or high flyer.