Current through Vol. 24-04, March 15, 2024
Rule 13.
(1) Buoys
marking fish nets or other fishing devices may be placed in waters of the state
without a permit.
(2) Buoys marking
state licensed commercial fishing nets, hook lines, or any other continuous
fishing devices shall meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Be a spar buoy with a staff not less than
1 inch in diameter.
(b) Have an
exposure of not less than 5 1/2 feet above the water surface. However, in
waters less than 6 feet deep, exposure above the water surface shall be 3 to 5
½ feet.
(c) Display 1 or
more flags that meet both of the following requirements:
(i) Each flag shall be orange in color, not
less than 12 inches by 12 inches and shall be securely affixed to the
buoy.
(ii) The uppermost flag shall
be attached to the top of the spar and any required additional flag shall be
attached immediately below the uppermost flag.
(d) As required by subrules (6) and (8) of
this rule, have affixed a license number or other identification required by
section 47322 of 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.47322. The license number shall be
displayed in plain, legible letters or numbers, or both, that are at least 3
inches in height and that are of a color that contrasts to the bowl to which
they are affixed.
(e) Be maintained
in good and serviceable condition.
(f) Float in an upright position.
(g) When required by subrules (4) and (5) of
this rule, be constructed of metal or be fitted with a metal radar reflector
consisting of metallic plates or cylinders not less than 6 inches in height and
capable of radar detection from any direction.
(3) Floats marking state licensed commercial
fishing nets, hook lines, or any other continuous fishing devices shall meet
all of the following requirements:
(a) Be
orange in color and float on the surface.
(b) Except as otherwise specified in subrules
(4) and (6), a float shall be at least 6 inches in diameter and 14 inches in
length. As an alternative, a gang or group of smaller floats bound together and
having a combined median longitudinal cross-section surface area equal to or
greater than a 6 inch by 14 inch float may be used.
(c) Be maintained in good and serviceable
condition.
(4)
Impoundment nets, other than pound nets, shall be marked with the following
combination of spar buoys and floats:
(a) A
float shall be attached to the king anchor.
(b) A spar buoy displaying 2 orange flags and
having a metal radar reflector affixed to the top of the staff shall be
attached to the lifting buoy.
(c) A
spar buoy displaying an orange flag shall be attached to the lead anchor,
however, reverse trap nets sharing a common lead do not require a spar buoy on
the common lead.
(d) A float shall
be attached to each wing anchor.
(e) Any portion of an impoundment net,
including wings or lead, set in such a manner that there is 15 feet of water or
less above the top of the net, wing, or lead shall display at least 1 of the
following:
(i) A float spaced not more than
every 300 feet along the entire length of the net, wing, or lead.
(ii) A float that is at least 1 ½
inches in diameter and 4 inches in length spaced every 12 feet along the
corkline of the net, wing, or lead.
(5) A pound net shall be marked with a spar
buoy that is attached to the lifting buoy. The spar buoy shall display 2 orange
flags, and be constructed of metal or be fitted with a metal radar reflector
affixed to the top of the staff and consisting of metallic plates or cylinders
not less than 6 inches in height and capable of radar detection from any
direction.
(6) Gill nets shall be
marked with the following combination of spar buoys and floats:
(a) A spar buoy shall be attached to each end
of the gill net or to each end of a gang of gill nets and shall display an
orange flag. It shall be constructed of metal or be fitted with a metal radar
reflector affixed to the top of the staff and consisting of metallic plates or
cylinders not less than 6 inches in height and capable of radar detection from
any direction.
(b) In addition to
the requirements in subdivision (a) of this subrule, any portion of a gill net
set in water 15 feet deep or less shall have at least 1 of the following:
(i) A float spaced not more than every 300
feet along the entire length of the net.
(ii) A float that is at least 1 ½
inches in diameter and 4 inches in length spaced every 12 feet along the
corkline.
(7)
Hook lines shall be marked by a spar buoy displaying an orange flag attached to
each end of the hook line or each end of a gang of hook lines.
(8) A fisher setting or using nets, hook
lines, or other continuous fishing devices shall display their license number
upon the buoy bowls as follows:
(a) On all
gill net spar buoy bowls.
(b) On
all hook line spar buoy bowls.
(c)
On trap nets and other impoundment fishing devices, excluding pound nets, on
the bowl of the lifting buoy.
(d)
On pound nets, on the middle stake of the non-lead side of the pound
net.
(9) When any net,
hook line, or other continuous fishing device is set under the ice, its
location shall be marked by a stake extending not less than 4 feet above the
surface of the ice at each end of the net, hook line, or continuous fishing
device. The license number of the fisher setting or using the net, hook line,
or other continuous fishing device shall be displayed on each stake in plain,
legible figures at least 3 inches in height.
(10) Floats and buoys required by this rule
shall be attached with the minimum amount of line necessary to allow the float
or buoy to remain visible on the water's surface. Any extra line, including
lines from buoys or other equipment necessary for the operation of the fishing
device, shall be weighted in a manner that causes the extra line to be
submerged vertically below any buoy, float, or other equipment.
