- Division of Marine Fisheries
Massachusetts lobstermen are subject to seasonal trap closures each year to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglement. Ropeless or on-demand gear (ODG) fishing systems provide an opportunity for fishers to access these closed areas without the use of persistent buoy lines in the water column, which can cause entanglements of marine mammals and sea turtles. This technology replaces traditional buoy lines with stowed buoy lines and acoustic release systems. However, there is a wide range of concerns regarding the impacts of using this technology on a broad scale, including technological, operational, and economic issues, as well as impacts on gear density and gear conflict. DMF’s Protected Species Program has been investing in and supporting research to understand how on-demand gear may impact the industry across these areas of concern. This on-demand gear research is largely funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which provides opportunities for states to conduct innovative gear research. Four areas of focus are described below.
Support to fishers testing on-demand gear
Since 2019, DMF has provided Letters of Authorization to state permit holders to test the functionality and efficiency of ODG and to familiarize them with using the technologies. This testing is primarily conducted through an Exempted Fishing Permit held by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). Through 2024, 25 MA-based fishers have been covered by DMF authorizations. In 2023, DMF began authorizing testing in certain portions of the seasonal restricted area during the closed season. Those operating ODG in state waters during the closed season must use specially marked stowed buoy lines and provide data on catch rates.
Results of this work to-date have shown an ODG recovery success rate of ~94% in 2023 and ~88% in 2024 (n=225 and 337 hauls, respectively) and identified areas of improvement such as mechanical failures (primarily encountered after storm events), operational errors, and technical interruptions. Also, technologies for gear avoidance were tested that displayed ODG locations to app users within a 5-mile proximity to the gear. While overall successful, feedback from users has furthered the advancement of the apps and the associated ODG live database, EarthRanger.
Economic modeling of ODG implementation
An important element of DMF’s ODG research is our economic modeling project, conducted in collaboration with partners at Homarus Strategies, the NEFSC, and the University of Maine. This work, which is funded through grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, began in 2022 with the development of the modeling framework and continued in 2023 with the incorporation of additional data to the model to allow more detailed scenarios runs and support informed decision-making by managers and fishermen. To support the evaluation of ODG impacts, DMF began collecting timing data on the hauling efficiency (throughput rates per trawl) of ODG in 2024 using observer coverage by Protected Species Program staff. These data are being used to inform the economic model and to document hauling efficiencies of ODG and standard fixed gear. DMF staff have now collected timing data from 40 hauls in closed areas and 81 hauls in open areas on six vessels. Of these hauls, 61 were hauls with ODG and 60 with standard gear. DMF will continue to collect timing data in 2025 to better understand the potential hauling efficiency impacts of fishing ODG and what that might mean for through-put rates and revenue.
Gear density studies
To determine the feasibility of using ODG in densely fished areas, like some locations that are fished with standard gear, DMF is conducting density studies cooperatively with lobstermen. Our primary objective is to determine, in ideal conditions, the functional proximities of setting ODG without conflicts. Fishers are instructed to set five lobster trawls, with Edgetech’s ODG on one trawl end, at defined trawl spacings and then to retrieve the gear in the same order, identifying any gear conflicts that occur. After completing 12 trials, the work is repeated at closer trawl spacings.
So far the density work has been completed on two lobster vessels operating in Buzzards Bay; trials included trawl spacings of 100, 50, and 35 feet. A third vessel is planned to be used to help identify any potential vessel effects. Initial results seem to identify increased numbers of conflicts with reduced trawl spacing; vessel effects may also exist. Future work could include identifying other factors that can contribute towards gear conflicts such as multiple vessels operating within an area, depth, bottom type, currents, winds, or other environmental factors.
On-demand gear grant program
DMF is launching a grant program to assist fixed and mobile gear fishers in covering the cost of on-demand related equipment, such as satellite communication systems to provide info on ODG locations, installation of through-hull transducers, relevant software and device subscriptions, and the on-demand gear itself. The goals of the grants are to help fishers gain experience using ODG, invest in the equipment, off-set economic impacts of closures, and help prevent conflicts between the fixed-gear and mobile-gear fleets. DMF will reimburse costs up to $25,000 for fixed-gear fishers and $6,000 for mobile-gear fishers. More information can be found on the On-Demand Gear Research Program website.
By David Chosid and Erin Burke, Protected Species Program
