Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Public Hearing
Location: Science Building Room 102
Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries Service
NOAA Fisheries Service implemented the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales due to incidental entanglement in fishing gear. The Plan is an evolving plan that changes as NOAA Fisheries Service learns more about why whales become entangled and how fishing practices might be modified to reduce the risk of entanglement. It has several components including restrictions on where and how gear can be set; research into whale populations and whale behavior, as well as fishing gear interactions and modifications; outreach to inform and collaborate with fishermen and other stakeholders; and a large whale disentanglement program.
In response to the continued serious injury and mortality of large whales from entanglement in vertical lines of commercial fishing gear, NMFS determined that additional modifications to the Plan were warranted. Therefore, NMFS reconvened the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team to help evaluate the Plan and discuss additional modifications necessary to meet the goals of the MMPA and Endangered Species Act.
The purpose of this meeting is to solicit public comments on the proposed measures to reduce the risk of serious injury or mortality of right, humpback and finback whales as a result of vertical lines in commercial fisheries.