Restricted Gear Area LOA and VMS Declaration

United States Department Of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Region
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

NORTHEAST MULTISPECIES RESTRICTED GEAR AREA
AUTHORIZATION LETTER
F/V

Date Issued:
Permit Number:
Hull Number:
Participation Period:

Pursuant to regulations at 50 CFR 648.8X(x), the above vessel is authorized to fish in the
Northeast Multispecies Restricted Gear Areas provided that the vessel complies with the
following conditions and requirements specified at 50 CFR 648.8X(x):
1.

This authorization letter must be carried on board the vessel.

2.

Gear restrictions. Unless otherwise authorized pursuant to paragraph (n)(3)(iv) of
this section, a limited access NE multispecies vessel subject to the restrictions of
paragraph (n) of this section may only use one or more of the gear types listed in
paragraphs 648.81(n)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section. No other type of fishing
gear may be on board the vessel when fishing in the NE Multispecies Restricted
Gear Areas specified in paragraphs (n)(1) and (2) of this section.

3.

Trip limits. A limited access NE multispecies vessel subject to the restrictions of
paragraph (n) of this section must comply with the trip limits specified in § 648.86,
unless further restricted by the following trip limits:
• If fishing exclusively under a NE multispecies DAS or under both a NE
multispecies DAS and a monkfish DAS with gear other than gillnet gear,
500 lb (227 kg) of all flatfish species (American plaice, witch flounder,
winter flounder, windowpane flounder, yellowtail flounder, and Atlantic
halibut), combined; 500 lb (227 kg) of monkfish (whole weight), unless
also subject to the monkfish possession restrictions in § 648.94(b)(3);
500 lb (227 kg) of skates (whole weight); and zero possession of
lobsters.
• If fishing under both a NE multispecies DAS and a monkfish DAS with
gillnet gear, 500 lb (227 kg) of all flatfish species (American plaice,
witch flounder, winter flounder, windowpane flounder, yellowtail
flounder, and Atlantic halibut), combined; the applicable monkfish
possession limits specified in § 648.94(b); 500 lb (227 kg) of skates
(whole weight); and zero possession of lobsters.

4.

Transiting. A limited access NE multispecies vessel that is not subject to the restrictions
of this paragraph (n) may transit the NE Multispecies Restricted Gear Areas specified in

OMB Control No.: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy

paragraphs (n)(1) and (2) of this section, provided any gear that is not authorized under
paragraph (n)(3) of this section is stowed and not available for immediate use in
accordance with § 648.23(b).
5.

There is a minimum enrollment period of 7 calendar days. A vessel may not fish outside
of these RGAs during the participation period listed on the LOA. Vessels issued this
exemption authorization for a period longer than 7 calendar days may withdraw from the
exemption authorization no earlier than 7 days after the first day of the participation
period noted above. Vessel owners may request a withdrawal by calling the NMFS,
Northeast Region Permit Office at (978) 281-9370. The vessel will not be officially
withdrawn until it returns the valid Letter of Authorization to the Permit Office at the
address above and receives a Withdrawal Notice issued by NMFS.

6.

Failure to comply with any of the above provisions, or of the provisions of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, automatically and immediately voids this authorization and
subjects the violator to fines and/or permit sanctions.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: Under the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579), no agency
shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or
to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to
whom the record pertains.
--BURDEN STATEMENT: The Restricted Gear Areas Authorization is approved under OMB Control #0648-XXXX,
and is approved for use through XX/XX/XXXX. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 2 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or suggestions for reducing this burden to National Marine Fisheries
Service, Fishery Management Operation Division, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.
--Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject
to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

OMB Control No.: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy