50 CFR § 660.319 - Open access fishery gear identification and marking.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t50/s660.319"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "50 CFR § 660.319 - Open access fishery gear identification and marking."
title_number: 50
title_name: "Wildlife and Fisheries"
section_number: "660.319"
section_name: "Open access fishery gear identification and marking."
chapter_name: "FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
part_number: "660"
part_name: "FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 1801  16 U.S.C. 773  and 16 U.S.C. 7001"
regulatory_source: "61 FR 34572, July 2, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "660"
---


# 660.319 Open access fishery gear identification and marking.

(a) *Gear identification.* (1) Open access fixed gear (longline, trap or pot, set net and stationary hook-and-line gear, including commercial vertical hook-and-line gear) must be marked at the surface and at each terminal end, with a pole, flag, light, radar reflector, and a buoy.

(2) Open access commercial vertical hook-and-line gear that is closely tended as defined at § 660.311 of this subpart, may be marked only with a single buoy of sufficient size to float the gear.

(3) A buoy used to mark fixed gear under paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section must be marked with a number clearly identifying the owner or operator of the vessel. The number may be either:

(i) If required by applicable state law, the vessel's number, the commercial fishing license number, or buoy brand number; or

(ii) The vessel documentation number issued by the USCG, or, for an undocumented vessel, the vessel registration number issued by the state.

(b) [Reserved]