Midwater Snap Gear –Modified Longline Gear Coming Soon
In September, the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended and the NMFS authorized a single Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to test over a two-year period a new modified gear to fish for swordfish off the West Coast. The gear, called Midwater Snap Gear is actually significantly modified longline gear. See below.
The Council recommended issuing permits to 5 commercial fishing vessels belonging to experienced commercial fishermen. The vessels would be permitted to deploy, in total, 5 nautical miles of gear, which is significantly shorter than traditional longline gear. The gear is comprised of connected sections of the line, each section ranging from 300 to 500 meters in length. Those horizontal sections of line will be suspended in the water column by weighted buoy lines, ranging between 25 to 75 meters long. Five to fifteen, size 18/0, circle hooks will be deployed in each section that will be attached to the mainline by a 2-millimeter monofilament snap line of approximately 12-meters in length. The Council recommended a maximum of 4 hours soak time per set for the purpose of improving the survivability of bycatch species.
The authorized fishing area off the West Coast will be 20 nautical miles seaward of all mainland shorelines and islands.
