Click here to return to my home page

Summary of closed & restricted areas

Home | Fisheries management | Regulated area coordinates

I've compiled a list of the coordinates of the regulated areas.   My in-house lawyer wannabe said that I should insert a legal disclaimer of some sort, so here it is:

This is a summary of closed and restricted area coordinates compiled from NMFS data.  This summary has no legal standing.  You should request a summary of the official rules from NMFS.  NMFS will then tell you that their official summary has no legal standing either, and will tell you that you should get a copy of the official rules that were published in the Federal Register.  The bottom line is this: If the very government agency charged with preserving fisheries isn't willing to step up and take responsibility for the accuracy of its regulatory publications, I see no reason to put my own head on the chopping block.  Nonetheless, I've checked this for accuracy as best I can - please write with any suggestions or corrections.

Named Areas

Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat Closure Area Northern Fishery Management Area
Cape Cod South Closure Area Northern Restricted Gear Area
Cashes Ledge Closure Area - 1 of 2 (Gillnets only) Offshore Closure Area
Cashes Ledge Closure Area - 2 of 2 (All groundfishing) Restricted Gear Area I
Cashes Ledge East Restricted Gear Area II
Cashes Ledge West Restricted Gear Area III
Closed Area I Restricted Gear Area IV
Closed Area II  
Cod Trip Limit Exemption Area  
Cultivator Shoal Whiting Fishery Exemption Area  
Georges Bank Regulated Mesh Area  
GOM/GB Dogfish & Monkfish Gillnet Exemption Area Small Mesh Area 1
GOM/GB Inshore Restricted Roller Gear Area Small Mesh Area 2
GOM Regulated Mesh Area Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Fishery Exemption Area
GOM/GB Regulated Mesh Area SNE Little Tunny Exemption Area
Great South Channel Critical Habitat Closure Area SNE Monkfish & Skate Trawl Exemption Area
Hudson Canyon South Closure Area SNE Monkfish, Skate, & Dogfish Gillnet Exemption Area
Mid-Atlantic Regulated Mesh Area SNE Regulated Mesh Area
Massachusetts Bay Closure Area Southern Gear Restricted Area
Mid-Coast Closure Area Southern Fishery Management Area
Mudhole Closure Area Southern Mid-Atlantic Waters Closure Area
Nantucket Lightship Closed Area Southern Restricted Gear Area
Nantucket Shoal Dogfish Exemption Area Virginia Beach Closure Area
Northeast Closure Area VMS Demarcation Line
Northern Gear Restricted Area I Waters Off New Jersey Closure Area
Northern Gear Restricted Area II Western GOM Area Closure