Section R. 281.1113 - Buoys marking fish nets or other fishing devicesRule 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.Mich. Admin. Code R. 281.1113