The Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is issuing this reminder to all fishermen of the upcoming Cod Conservation Zone to take effect on December 1st (322 CMR 8.15). To protect predictable aggregations of cod, a portion of Mass. Bay has been designated a Cod Conservation Zone. The harvest of cod by any person from waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth north of latitude 42º 20’and south of 42º 30’ latitude will be prohibited during the period December 1 through January 15. With the exception of lobster traps and drags for scallops and sea urchins, it will also be unlawful for any person to fish, set, or abandon any gear capable of harvesting cod in this Cod Conservation Zone during the restricted season. This prohibition shall apply to all gillnets, otter trawls, mid-water trawls, seines, and all hook-and-line gears including longlines, rod-and-reel, and handlines.

To clarify, waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth are bounded to the east by the 3-nautical mile boundary line. A map of the closed area is included below. This seasonal prohibition shall remain in effect through January 16, 2007.