Black Sea Bass Gear Identification Requirements

50 CFR 648.144 (up to date as of 6/03/2024)
Black sea bass gear restrictions.

50 CFR 648.144 (June 3, 2024)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 50 —Wildlife and Fisheries
Chapter VI —Fishery Conservation and Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of Commerce
Part 648 —Fisheries of the Northeastern United States
Subpart I —Management Measures for the Black Sea Bass Fishery
Source: 61 FR 58467, Nov. 15, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source: 61 FR 34968, July 3, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 648 appear at 62 FR 14651, Mar. 27, 1997.
§ 648.144 Black sea bass gear restrictions.
(a) Trawl gear restrictions —
(1) General.
(i)

Otter trawlers whose owners are issued a black sea bass moratorium permit and that land or
possess 500 lb (226.8 kg) or more of black sea bass from January 1 through March 31, or 100
lb (45.4 kg) or more of black sea bass from April 1 through December 31, must fish with nets
that have a minimum mesh size of 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) diamond mesh applied throughout the
codend for at least 75 continuous meshes forward of the terminus of the net, or for codends
with less than 75 meshes, the entire net must have a minimum mesh size of 4.5-inch
(11.43-cm) diamond mesh throughout.

(ii) Mesh sizes shall be measured pursuant to the procedure specified in § 648.108(a)(2).
(2) Net modifications. No vessel subject to this part shall use any device, gear, or material, including, but
not limited to, nets, net strengtheners, ropes, lines, or chafing gear, on the top of the regulated
portion of a trawl net except that one splitting strap and one bull rope (if present) consisting of line
or rope no more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter may be used if such splitting strap and/or bull
rope does not constrict, in any manner, the top of the regulated portion of the net, and one rope no
greater than 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in diameter extending the length of the net from the belly to the
terminus of the codend along the top, bottom, and each side of the net. “Top of the regulated portion
of the net” means the 50 percent of the entire regulated portion of the net that (in a hypothetical
situation) will not be in contact with the ocean bottom during a tow if the regulated portion of the net
were laid flat on the ocean floor. For the purpose of this paragraph, head ropes shall not be
considered part of the top of the regulated portion of a trawl net.
(3) Mesh obstruction or constriction.
(i)

A fishing vessel may not use any mesh configuration, mesh construction, or other means on or
in the top of the net, as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, that obstructs the meshes of
the net in any manner, or otherwise causes the size of the meshes of the net while in use to
diminish to a size smaller than the minimum established pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this
section.

50 CFR 648.144(a)(3)(i) (enhanced display)

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50 CFR 648.144 (up to date as of 6/03/2024)
Black sea bass gear restrictions.

50 CFR 648.144(a)(3)(ii)

(ii) No person on any vessel may possess or fish with a net capable of catching black sea bass in
which the bars entering or exiting the knots twist around each other.
(4) Stowage of nets. Otter trawl vessels subject to the minimum mesh-size requirement of paragraph
(a)(1)(i) of this section may not have “available for immediate use” any net or any piece of net that
does not meet the minimum mesh size requirement, or any net, or any piece of net, with mesh that is
rigged in a manner that is inconsistent with the minimum mesh size requirement. Nets must be
stowed and not available for immediate use as defined in § 648.2.
(5) Roller gear. Rollers used in roller rig or rock hopper trawl gear shall be no larger than 18 inches (45.7
cm) in diameter.
(b) Pot and trap gear restrictions —
(1) Gear marking. The owner of a vessel issued a black sea bass moratorium permit must mark all black
sea bass pots or traps with the vessel's USCG documentation number or state registration number.
(2) All black sea bass traps or pots must have two escape vents placed in lower corners of the parlor
portion of the pot or trap that each comply with one of the following minimum size requirements:
1.375 inches by 5.75 inches (3.49 cm by 14.61 cm); a circular vent of 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in
diameter; or a square vent with sides of 2 inches (5.1 cm), inside measure; however, black sea bass
traps constructed of wooden laths instead may have escape vents constructed by leaving spaces of
at least 1.375 inches (3.49 cm) between two sets of laths in the parlor portion of the trap. These
dimensions for escape vents and lath spacing may be adjusted pursuant to the procedures in §
648.140.
(3) Ghost panel.
(i)

Black sea bass traps or pots must contain a ghost panel affixed to the trap or pot with
degradable fasteners and hinges. The opening to be covered by the ghost panel must measure
at least 3.0 inches (7.62 cm) by 6.0 inches (15.24 cm). The ghost panel must be affixed to the
pot or trap with hinges and fasteners made of one of the following degradable materials:
(A) Untreated hemp, jute, or cotton string of 3⁄16 inches (4.8 mm) diameter or smaller; or
(B) Magnesium alloy, timed float releases (pop-up devices) or similar magnesium alloy
fasteners; or
(C) Ungalvanized or uncoated iron wire of 0.094 inches (2.4 mm) diameter or smaller.

(ii) The use of a single non-degradable retention device designed to prevent loss of the ghost panel
after the degradable materials have failed is permitted, provided the device does not impair the
egress design function of the ghost panel by obstructing the opening or by preventing the panel
from opening at such time that the degradable fasteners have completely deteriorated.
[76 FR 60637, Sept. 29, 2011, as amended at 79 FR 52583, Sept. 4, 2014; 84 FR 65705, Nov. 29, 2019]

50 CFR 648.144(b)(3)(ii) (enhanced display)

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