50 CFR § 697.17 - Non-trap harvest restrictions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t50/s697.17"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "50 CFR § 697.17 - Non-trap harvest restrictions."
title_number: 50
title_name: "Wildlife and Fisheries"
section_number: "697.17"
section_name: "Non-trap harvest restrictions."
chapter_name: "FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
part_number: "697"
part_name: "ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 5101"
regulatory_source: "64 FR 68248, Dec. 6, 1999, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "697"
---


# 697.17 Non-trap harvest restrictions.

(a) *Non-trap lobster landing limits.* In addition to the prohibitions set forth in § 600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for a vessel with any non-trap gear on board capable of catching lobsters, or, that fishes for, takes, catches, or harvests lobster on a fishing trip in or from the EEZ by a method other than traps, to possess, retain on board, or land, in excess of 100 lobsters (or parts thereof), for each lobster day-at-sea or part of a lobster day-at-sea, up to a maximum of 500 lobsters (or parts thereof) for any one trip, unless otherwise restricted by § 648.80(a)(3)(i), (a)(4)(i)(A), (a)(8)(i), (a)(9)(i)(D), (a)(12)(i)(A), (a)(13)(i)(A), or (b)(3)(ii) of this chapter or § 697.7(c)(2)(i)(C).

(b) *Trap prohibition for non-trap lobster harvesters.* All persons that fish for, take, catch, or harvest lobsters on a fishing trip in or from the EEZ are prohibited from transferring or attempting to transfer American lobster from one vessel to another vessel.

(c) *Trap prohibition for non-trap lobster vessels.* Any vessel on a fishing trip in the EEZ that fishes for, takes, catches, or harvests lobster by a method other than traps may not possess on board, deploy, fish with, or haul back traps.

(d) *Non-trap Jonah crab landing limits.* In addition to the prohibitions set forth in § 600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for a vessel with any non-trap gear on board that fishes for, takes, catches, or harvests Jonah crabs on a fishing trip in or from the EEZ by a method other than traps, to possess, retain on board, or land, in excess of up to 1,000 Jonah crabs (or parts thereof), for each trip, unless otherwise restricted by § 697.7.

(e) *Restrictions on fishing for, possessing, or landing fish other than Jonah crabs.* Vessels are prohibited from possessing or landing Jonah crabs in excess of 50 percent, by weight, of all other species on board.

(f) *Trap prohibition for non-trap Jonah crab harvesters.* All persons that fish for, take, catch, or harvest Jonah crabs on a fishing trip in or from the EEZ are prohibited from transferring or attempting to transfer Jonah crabs from one vessel to another vessel.

[84 FR 61581, Nov. 13, 2019]