Code of Maine Rules › 13 - DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES › 188 - MARINE RESOURCES - GENERAL › Chapter 45 - SHRIMP › Section 188-45-10 - Net restrictions

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Mesh
				size
1. It shall be unlawful to fish
				for, take, transport or possess any shrimp on board any vessel rigged with a
				trawl net having a mesh opening of less than 1 3/4 inches between knots. It
				shall also be unlawful to possess a net or netting with an opening of less than
				1 3/4 inches between knots on board any vessel rigged with a trawl net which is
				engaged in the fishing for, taking, or transport of shrimp or which carries
				shrimp for any purpose, except that the webbing funnel may be constructed with
				a mesh size not less than 1 3/8 inches. Additionally, an exception is made for
				a deflector panel of 1-inch mesh in the cod end behind the second grate in a
				double grate system, as described in Chapter 45.10(F).
2.
EXCEPTION
for Maine
				Territorial Seas: Pursuant to Department of Marine Resources' Regulation
				34.10(1)(C)(1) and (2), any vessel rigged with a trawl net having a mesh size
				of less than 6 inches diamond or square mesh in the body and wings and less
				than 6.5 inches diamond or square mesh in the cod end may only fish in Maine
				territorial waters January 1 to March 31, both days inclusive.
3.
Finfish Excluder Device
. It
				shall be unlawful for any vessel rigged for otter trawling, to fish for, land
				or have in possession northern shrimp except by using trawls equipped with
				finfish excluder devices. Such finfish excluder devices (commonly referred to
				as the "Nordmore Grate System") shall consist of:
a. The grate is a rigid or semi-rigid planar
				device consisting of parallel bars attached to a frame with a spacing between
				bars of not more than 1 inch. The parallel bars of the grate shall be oriented
				up and down and the grate itself shall be tilted at approximately a forty-five
				degree angle from the vertical plane. The frame of the grate shall be secured
				to the extension piece of the trawl net in such a manner that prevents the
				passage of fish between the frame of the grate and the webbing of the extension
				into the cod end.
b. The fish
				outlet is a triangular opening in the webbing of the extension of the trawl.
				This outlet may be located on the top or bottom of the extension which allows
				the escape of fish too large to pass between the bars of the grate. The
				triangular base of the fish outlet is aligned with the apex of the opening
				forward and is attached to the portion of the tilted grate closest to the cod
				end so that no lip or protruding edge of webbing is present to impede the
				escape of finfish. The base of the triangular opening shall not be less than 19
				inches in length. The sides of the triangular outlet shall taper to a forward
				(toward the mouth of the trawl) apex and shall be cut "all bars" to achieve the
				triangular shaped opening.
c. The
				webbing funnel shall be constructed of webbing or mesh not less than 1 3/8
				inches and shall be located in the extension in front of the grate. The
				circumference of the extension and the outlet of the funnel shall be of
				sufficient diameter to allow the passage of fish captured by the trawl. The
				funnel shall be secured in the extension in such a manner that the funnel mouth
				will be directed to the part of the grate furthest from the fish outlet to
				maximize the separation characteristics of the grate. However, this webbing
				funnel is not mandatory.
4. The maximum length of the bottom legs of
				the bridle of any shrimp trawl net shall not exceed 15 fathoms of uncovered or
				bare wire.
Exception. No person may possess
				any regulated species of cod, witch flounder, American plaice, Atlantic
				halibut, yellowtail flounder, haddock, pollock, winter flounder, windowpane
				flounder, redfish, ocean pout and white hake on board any vessel while fishing
				for shrimp.
5.
Mesh measurement
. Mesh sizes are to be measured by a flat
				wedged-shaped gauge having a taper of 4 cm. in 20 cm. and having a thickness of
				2.3 mm., inserted into the meshes under a pressure or pull of 1.90 kg. The mesh
				size of a net shall be the average of the measurements of a series of any 20
				consecutive meshes, at least 10 meshes from the lacing, and when measured in
				the cod end of the net beginning at the after end and running parallel to the
				long end axis.