Gear Marking Requirements

ATLANTIC LARGE WHALE TAKE REDUCTION PLAN

NORTHEAST LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB
GEAR MARKING REQUIREMENTS
NORTHEAST LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB GEAR MARKING FOR FEDERAL WATERS
The following text describes gear marking requirements for lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot gear in Northeast federal waters. Requirements for
all other management areas and other fisheries remain the same. These requirements represent the minimum markings. Additional markings
are also allowed. Visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alwtrp for complete regulations.
For the purpose of this document, the terms “surface system” means any combination of buoys and highfliers connected to each other on the
surface and “body of the buoy line” means that portion of the buoy line that connects the trap or groundline to the surface buoy or surface
system.

AREA COLOR IS BASED ON PERMIT’S PRINCIPAL PORT (NON-LMA 3) OR LMA 3 PERMIT
MAINE
You must have at least 4 sets (PURPLE and GREEN) of marks: 1 set within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system, and 3 more in the body of the
buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID PURPLE mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark in the top 2 fathoms of surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch PURPLE mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark at the top, middle, and bottom of the body of the buoy line.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
You must have at least 4 sets (YELLOW and GREEN) of marks: 1 set within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system and 3 more in the body of the
buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID YELLOW mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark in the top 2 fathoms of surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch YELLOW mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark at the top, middle, and bottom of the body of the buoy line.

MASSACHUSETTS
You must have at least 4 sets (RED and GREEN) of marks: 1 set within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system, and 3 more in the body of the
buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID RED mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch SOLID GREEN* mark in the top 2 fathoms of surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch RED mark (may be longer) within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark at the top, middle, and bottom of the body of the buoy line.
• If you have line marked at every 60 feet as required by the state, there must be a GREEN mark next to all RED state marks.
*Solid green marks in the surface systems are required by state regulations.

RHODE ISLAND
You must have at least 4 sets (SILVER/GRAY and GREEN) of marks: 1 set within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system and 3 more in the body of
the buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID SILVER/GRAY mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark in the top 2 fathoms of surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch SILVER/GRAY mark within 6 inches of a 12-inch GREEN mark at the top, middle, and bottom of the body of the buoy line.

LMA 3
You must have at least 4 sets (BLACK and GREEN) of marks: 1 set within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system and 3 more in the body of the
buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID BLACK mark within 6 inches of one 12-inch GREEN mark in the top 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch BLACK mark within 6 inches of a 12-inch GREEN mark at the top, middle, and bottom of the body of the buoy line.

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U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service

EXAMPLES OF LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB GEAR MARKING FOR FEDERAL WATERS
AREA COLOR IS BASED ON PERMIT’S PRINCIPAL PORT (NON-LMA 3) OR LMA 3 PERMIT

MAINE

NEW HAMPSHIRE

OR

Top 2 fathoms

OR

Body of buoy
line

Body of buoy
line

3 fee t 12 in.
Top 2 fathoms

3 feet 12 in.

3 fee t 12 in.

3 feet 12 in.

Top 2 fathoms

OR
3 feet 12 in.

3 fee t 12 in.

RHODE ISLAND

Body of buoy
line

HOW TO MARK YOUR GEAR

MASSACHUSETTS

OR

3 fee t 12 in.

Body of buoy
line

3 fee t 12 in.
Top 2 fathoms

Body of buoy
line

3 feet 12 in.

Top 2 fathoms

OR
3 feet 12 in. 2 feet

2 fee t

A solid colored rope may be used for state
or LMA 3 gear marks, including the solid
surface mark.

LMA 3

The solid surface 3-foot mark may be
applied with dye, paint, tape, heat-shrink
tubing, insertion of a colored rope or braided
sleeve, or the line may be marked as
approved in writing by the Greater Atlantic
Regional Administrator.
Rope with a distinctive colored strand
throughout or Candy Cane rope may be used
instead of the specific state or LMA 3 gear
marks in the body of the buoy line.
For federal marks or where state or LMA 3
colored rope is not used, the 12-inch marks
may be added using dye, paint, tape, heatshrink tubing, zip ties; spliced in insertion
of a colored rope or braided sleeve or other
material, or a thin line may be woven into or
through the line; or the line may be marked
as approved in writing by the Greater
Atlantic Regional Administrator.

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U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service

NORTHEAST LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB GEAR MARKING FOR STATE WATERS
The following text describes gear marking requirements for lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot gear in Northeast state waters. Check with
your state agency for the latest information on state gear marking requirements, including in Maine Exempt Waters. The information
below is subject to change by the states. Please check with your state for the most up-to-date regulations.
For the purpose of this document, the terms “surface system” means any combination of buoys and highfliers connected to each other
on the surface and “body of the buoy line” means that portion of the buoy line that connects the trap or groundline to the surface buoy
or surface system.

MAINE
You must have at least 3 PURPLE marks: 1 within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system and 2 more in the body of the buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID PURPLE mark within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or system; and
• One 12-inch PURPLE mark in the top 50% of the body of the buoy line and one 12-inch PURPLE mark in the bottom 50% of the body of the
buoy line.
Maine Exempt Waters have different state requirements that are not included here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
You must have at least 3 YELLOW marks: 1 within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or system and 2 more inbody of the buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID YELLOW mark within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch YELLOW mark in the top 50% of buoy line and one 12-inch YELLOW mark in the bottom 50% body of the buoy line.

MASSACHUSETTS
You must have at least 5 RED marks: 1 within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system, and 4 more in the body of the buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID RED mark within the top 2 fathoms of rope, below the surface buoy or surface system; and
• Four 2-foot RED marks; two in the top 50% of the buoy line and two 2-foot RED marks in the bottom 50% of the body of the buoy line.
There must be at least one solid or non-solid RED mark every 60 feet within the body of the buoy line.
If you are using weak inserts that are RED (such as an insert of weak CANDYCANE or RED rope or has a RED tracer in it), then the weak insert
may double as a RED mark in the body of the buoy line.
If the buoy line is RED or RED/WHITE (CANDYCANE), WHITE marks must be substituted for RED marks.

RHODE ISLAND
You must have at least 3 SILVER/GRAY marks: 1 within 2 fathoms of the surface buoy or surface system and 2 more in the body of the buoy line:
• One 3-foot SOLID SILVER/GRAY mark within 2 fathoms of surface buoy or surface system; and
• One 12-inch SILVER/GRAY mark in the top 50% of buoy line and one 12-inch SILVER/GRAY mark in the bottom 50% body of the buoy line.

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U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service

EXAMPLES OF LOBSTER AND JONAH CRAB GEAR MARKING FOR STATE WATERS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

MAINE

OR

RHODE ISLAND

OR

12 in.
Body of buoy
line

Body of buoy
line

Body of buoy
line

Top 2 fathoms

12 in.

12 in.

12 in.

3 fee t

3 feet

Top 2 fathoms

12 in.

12 in.

3 fee t

3 feet

Top 2 fathoms

3 feet

3 fee t

OR

HOW TO MARK YOUR GEAR

A solid colored rope may be used for state gear
marks, including the solid surface mark.

MASSACHUSETTS

OR
3 fee t

2 fee t

Top 2 fathoms
2 feet

2 feet

IF USING WHITE ROPE,
MARKS SHOULD BE
RED. ALTERNATIVE:
IF USING RED OR
CANDYCANE COLORED
ROPE, MARKS SHOULD
BE WHITE.

3 feet

3 feet

Top 2 fathoms

Body of buoy
line

4

OR

3 fee t
2 fee t

The solid surface 3-foot mark may be applied
with dye, paint, tape, heat-shrink tubing, insertion
of a colored rope or braided sleeve, or the line
may be marked as approved in writing by the
Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator.

Body of buoy
line

Rope with a distinctive colored strand throughout
or Candy Cane rope may be used instead of the
specific state gear marks in the body of the buoy
line.
The state 12-inch marks may be added using dye,
paint, tape, heat-shrink tubing, zip ties; spliced
in insertion of a colored rope or braided sleeve or
other material, or a thin line may be woven into
or through the line; or the line may be marked
as approved in writing by the Greater Atlantic
Regional Administrator.

U.S. Department of Commerce  |  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  |  National Marine Fisheries Service