§ 250.1741 — If I Drag A Trawl Across A Site, What Requirements Must I Meet?

If you drag a trawl across the site in accordance with § 250.1740, you must meet all of the requirements of this section.

(a) You must drag the trawl in a grid-like pattern as shown in the following table:

(b) You must trawl 100 percent of the limits described in paragraph (a) of this section in two directions.

(c) You must mark the area to be cleared as a hazard to navigation according to USCG requirements until you complete the site clearance procedures.

(d) You must use a trawling vessel equipped with a calibrated navigational positioning system capable of providing position accuracy of ±30 feet.

(e) You must use a trawling net that is representative of those used in the commercial fishing industry (one that has a net strength equal or greater than that provided by No. 18 twine).

(f) You must ensure that you trawl no closer than 300 feet from a shipwreck, and 500 feet from a sensitive biological feature.

(g) If you trawl near an active pipeline, you must meet the requirements in the following table:

(h) You must ensure that any trawling contractor you may use:

(1) Has no corporate or other financial ties to you; and

(2) Has a valid commercial trawling license for both the vessel and its captain.