Massachusetts this past week imposes an emergency gill net closer for Mass waters because of to many cod being caught and thrown overboard as bycatch.

good :btu:

There was an article in the Globe last summer on how comercial cod fisherman have to throw back dead fish when they go over there legal gross weight. What a waist. They cant donate them to homeless shelters or prisons. Does this make sence? Think of this the next time you get skunked. They named Cape Cod for a reason. Now look at it.

That article is true.
You are allowed 500lbs. per day in Federal or State waters when dragging or gill netting. Each gillnet permitted boat is allowed to fish up to 80 nets 150 feet long. I don't know of anybody that fishes that many. Normally they fish 10 -20 nets. Let us use 2000lbs. So say your boat has 5 nets out and you haul all 5 nets in a day and you have caught 2000lbs. of cod 1500 lbs. must go over board. Most of them fish go over board DEAD. Don"t blame the fisherman. It is a "government rule". A better or more sencible rule in my opinion would be to bring in the 2000lbs. of fish because they are not going to live anyway,sell the catch and then penalize you, you can't go fishing for four days.
With the way the rule is now if you bring in 501lbs. or more most likely your catch will be seized and you will be fined anywhere from $5000.00-$50,000.

living in this dumb ass state!