Final Environmental Assessment, Final Regulatory Impact Review, and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Require the Use of Weak Hooks on Pelagic Longline Vessels in the Gulf of Mexico
Author | : |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 94 |
Release | : 2011 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:793007351 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (51 Downloads) |
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment, Final Regulatory Impact Review, and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Require the Use of Weak Hooks on Pelagic Longline Vessels in the Gulf of Mexico written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Since 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has conducted research on pelagic longline (PLL) vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to reduce the discards of large Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Interim results show that the use of a weak hook can significantly reduce the amount of BFT caught by PLL vessels with some reductions in the catches of target species, yellowfin tuna (YFT) and swordfish. This action will require the use of weak hooks to reduce bycatch of BFT, allow normal operation of PLL fisheries in the GOM with minimal short-term adverse socio-economic impacts, and have both short and long-term beneficial ecological impacts on the stock status of BFT, a historically overfished species. This measure will be consistent with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. This action is not expected to significantly alter current fishing practices or increase fishing effort, would not be expected to change previously analyzed endangered species or marine mammal interaction rates or magnitudes, or affect critical habitat"--Cover letter.