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Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan - Quick Summary

Gulf of Maine Component

The Gulf of Maine portion of the HPTRP pertains to all fishing with sink gillnets and other gillnets capable of catching multispecies in New England waters from Maine through Rhode Island east of 72° 30’ W longitude (see map). Vessels using pelagic gillnets/baitnets (as described in 50 CFR 648.81 (f)(2)(ii)) are exempt from this plan. It includes time and area closures, some of which are complete closures. Others are closures to multispecies gillnet fishing unless pingers are used in the prescribed manner.

Management Measures for the Gulf of Maine
Areas and Dates	Restrictions
Northeast Closure Area
August 15 to September 13	No Gillnets
Mid-Coast Closure Area
September 15 to May 31	Gillnets with pingers
Massachusetts Bay Closure Area
December 1 to February 28/29	Gillnets with pingers
March 1-31	No Gillnets
April 1 to May 31	Gillnets with pingers
Cape Cod South Closure Area
December 1 to February 28/29	Gillnets with pingers
March 1-31	No Gillnets
April 1 to May 31	Gillnets with pingers
Offshore Closure Area (Surrounding Cashes Ledge Closure Area)
November 1 to May 31 (Except in Cashes Ledge Closure Area in February – see below)	Gillnets with pingers
Cashes Ledge Closure Area (Located within Offshore Closure Area)
February 1-28/29	No Gillnets

Mid-Atlantic Component

The Mid-Atlantic portion of the HPTRP pertains to waters west of 72° 30’ W. longitude to the Mid-Atlantic shoreline from the Connecticut/New York border to the North Carolina/South Carolina border (see map). It includes time and area closures to gillnet fishing unless the gear meets certain specifications. Gillnet fishing in Mid-Atlantic waters during regulated periods is regulated differently for small mesh and large mesh gear. The plan also includes some time and area closures in which gillnet fishing is prohibited regardless of the gear specifications.

Large Mesh Gillnet Fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic (Mesh Size 7-18 inches)

	Gear Modifications Required	CLOSED (No Gillnets)

Waters off New Jersey	Jan. 1 through March 31; April 21 through April 30	April 1 through April 20

New Jersey Mudhole (Located within the Waters off New Jersey)	Jan. 1 through Feb. 14; March 16 through March 31; April 21 through April 30	Feb. 15 through March 15

Southern Mid-Atlantic Waters	Feb. 1 through Feb. 14; March 16 through April 30	Feb. 15 through March 15

Small Mesh Gillnet Fishery in the Mid-Atlantic (Mesh Size >5 inches to < 7 inches)

	Gear Modifications Required	CLOSED (No Gillnets)

Waters off New Jersey	Jan. 1 through April 30	–

New Jersey Mudhole (Located within the Waters off New Jersey)	Jan. 1 through Feb. 14; March 16 through April 30	Feb. 15 through March 15

Southern Mid-Atlantic Waters	Feb. 1 through April 30	–

For more information on the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan, please contact Amanda Johnson
at 978-281-9300 or amanda.johnson@noaa.gov

Last Updated: June 27, 2006

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Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan - Quick Summary

For more information on the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan, please contact Amanda Johnson at 978-281-9300 or amanda.johnson@noaa.gov

Last Updated: June 27, 2006

For more information on the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan, please contact Amanda Johnson
at 978-281-9300 or amanda.johnson@noaa.gov