New regulations allow for fishing gear debris cleanups

New state regulations aim to streamline the timely and efficient removal of abandoned fishing gear from bodies of water.

The Healey-Driscoll administration on Jan. 27 announced new state regulations to promote the cleanup of fishing gear debris in order to protect marine biodiversity and public safety.

The regulations, which took effect on Jan. 30, are intended to streamline the timely and efficient removal of derelict fishing gear, while continuing to protect functional fishing gear and minimizing conflicts on the water.

The regulations, developed by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries with input from stakeholders including fishing industry representatives and municipal leaders, allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to permit local leaders, community organizations, and other partners to conduct coastal cleanups.

In a prepared statement, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said, ”We look forward to continued partnership with the fishing industry and conservationists to tackle this challenge coastwide through creativity and collaboration.”

Fishing gear debris (gear that is not intact) harms marine life and creates safety hazards for fishers, boaters and beachgoers. Lost or abandoned gear can “ghost fish,” or continue to catch and kill marine life, and poses entanglement risks for endangered marine animals.

The administration said that state law, dating back to a time when much of the fishing gear used was salvageable, had constrained the cleanup of fishing gear debris. Most of the modern debris consists of plastic-coated metal traps, which are not biodegradable and often not salvageable.

More information about the new regulations is available on mass.gov.