October 7, 2025 — The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has pressed pause on a controversial proposal that could reshape how fishermen operate in seasonally restricted federal waters.
Nora Saks with Maine Public reported that the council voted unanimously on September 25 to delay action on a regulatory framework that would permit the use of alternative gear designed to protect whales. These new on-demand or ropeless systems replace traditional vertical buoy lines with digital markers, showing gear locations electronically rather than at the surface.
Although the technology has shown promise, questions about its effectiveness, costs, and regulatory implications remain unanswered. Geoff Smith of the Nature Conservancy in Maine emphasized that while trials indicate ropeless gear can work for fixed gear fishermen, the council needs to ensure it is viable for both mobile and fixed gear operations, regardless of whether individual fishermen choose to adopt it.