VENTLESS TRAP AND LARVAL SURVEY (#119)

Offshore wind mariner update NO. 119

STATUS: Active

F/V FRUM UNDA and F/V MISS MOLLY, lobster vessels from Martha’s Vineyard and New Bedford working with the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), will be performing larval tows starting the second week of May. Larval tows will be conducted twice a month in Lease Area 0501 and the adjacent control area . After May 15th, gear will be deployed for the ventless trap survey at 15 locations within Lease Area 0501 and 15 locations within the control area (Chart). Gear will be deployed at all stations at the end of May. The ventless trap survey will sample traps once in May and twice a month through October 2026. Trawls are set in an East/West direction on the 0’s and 5’s of the 43000 line and are configured in 7 pot strings approximately 1,200 feet long. End lines are marked with radar reflecting highflyers with double flags on the west end and a single flag on the east end. They will be operating throughout Vineyard Wind Lease Area 501 and adjacent control area.

Please visit marinernotices.com to download exact trap locations

All vessels will be standing by on VHF channel 16

DATES(S): Starting on May 18th and continuing through October 2026.

LOCATION(S): Lease Area 0501 and adjacent control area.

VESSELS: