Cultivator Shoal Whiting Fishery Exemption Area

Area: This exemption area is defined by straight lines connecting the following points in the order stated:

Season: June 15 – October 31, unless otherwise specified by notification in the Federal Register.

Gear: A minimum mesh size of 3-inch square or diamond mesh, applied to the first 100 meshes (200 bars in case of square mesh) for a vessel greater than 60 feet in length, or 50 meshes (100 bars in case of square mesh) for a vessel less than or equal to 60 feet in length, counted from the terminus of the net.

Possession Limits:

• Red Hake: 3,000 lb
• The Whiting (Silver hake and offshore hake combined): 30,000 lb

Note: Possession limits may be reduced to 2,000 lb for whiting and 400 lb for red hake if the in-season possession limit triggers are reached.

Additional Incidental Species Allowed: While fishing in this exemption area, vessels may not fish for, possess on board, or land any species of fish other than small-mesh multispecies (hakes) and the following species as incidental catch:

• Atlantic herring;
• Longhorn sculpin;
• Squid;
• Butterfish;
• Spiny dogfish;
• Atlantic mackerel;
• Monkfish and monkfish parts – up to 10%, by weight, of all other species on board or up to 50 lb tail weight (146 lb whole weight) of monkfish per trip, whichever is less; and
• American lobster – up to 10%, by weight, of all other species on board or 200 lobsters, whichever is less, unless otherwise restricted.

Additional Requirements: Participating vessels must carry a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued by the Regional Administrator, valid for a minimum of 7 days. Participating vessels may withdraw from the program no earlier than 7 days from the date of enrollment. LOAs, and withdrawals, may be obtained from the Northeast Region Permit Office at (978) 281-9370. For more information, click here.

Small mesh may not be used outside the Cultivator Shoal Exemption Area in either the Western or Eastern US/Canada Areas or elsewhere on GB except in the SNE Exemption Area. When transiting the Gulf of Maine (GOM) or Georges Bank (GB) Regulated Mesh Areas (RMAs), any nets with a mesh size smaller than the RMA minimum mesh size must be stowed and unavailable for immediate use.