Recent Regulatory Actions--Fisheries 2006 2005 2004 2003 & Earlier
Final Rule to Implement Measures to Reduce Bycatch of Seabirds in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery NOAA
Fisheries Service, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the fishing industry have been collaborating on research to test side-setting and other measures as additional seabird deterrent methods for Hawaii longline vessels. Under this final rule, which takes effect January 18, 2006, owners and operators of longline fishing vessels must either side-set (deploy longline gear from the side of the vessel rather than from the stern) or use a combination of other measures to prevent seabirds from being accidentally hooked, entangled, and killed during fishing operations.
Haddock Bycatch Cap in the New England Herring Fishery Extended
NOAA Fisheries Service has extended the effectiveness of a haddock bycatch cap for the Atlantic herring fishery through June 6, 2006. This temporary rule maintains the current cap on the total amount of observed and reported haddock that can be landed by Category 1 herring vessels. It is intended to keep haddock possession as close to zero as practicable, while allowing the herring industry to operate.
Emergency Rule to Extend Bycatch Limits in Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
This action extends an emergency rule, published May 5, 2005, that establishes routine authority to reduce trip limits to incidental levels in the open access fishery for groundfish before the sector has taken its full target allocations. This action is necessary to quickly restrict the directed open access groundfish fishery if the incidental catch of an overfished species is too high.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region
This final rule includes, among other things, the following provisions: (1) requires an owner or operator of a vessel in the South Atlantic rock shrimp or penaeid shrimp fishery to submit catch and effort reports and to carry an observer on selected trips; (2) and requires bycatch reduction devices in nets in the rock shrimp fishery. Amendment 6 also revises the bycatch reduction criteria for the certification of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs), and transfers responsibilities for the BRD testing protocol from the Council to NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Administrator.
Changes to Commercial and Recreational Management Measures in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
The Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP regulates fishing for over 80 species of groundfish off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. A new rule includes several actions, including an increase to the bycatch limit for widow rockfish in the whiting fishery. These measures will allow fishermen to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Caribbean - Seasonal Closures and other Measures Adopted to Rebuild Overfished Stocks, Avoid Bycatch and Protect Habitat
NOAA Fisheries Service has published a final rule affecting fisheries managed under the
Caribbean Council’s Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, Reef Fish, and Coral Fishery Management Plans. These measures are expected to support the rebuilding of overfished stocks, minimize bycatch and minimize impacts to essential fish habitat.
Final Rule for New England Groundfish Implements Framework 40-B
Framework 40-B was developed to improve the effectiveness of the Amendment 13 effort controlprogram, develop additional opportunities to target healthy groundfish stocks using Category B Days-At-Sea, and collect more information regarding groundfish bycatch in the herring fishery.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 22 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
This rule provides the regulatory authority to implement a mandatory observer program for selected commercial and for-hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery, and it also establishes a stock rebuilding plan, biological reference points, and stock status determination criteria for red snapper.
Emergency Rule to Establish Incidental Haddock Catch Allowance for 2005 Atlantic Herring Fishery
The intent of these provisions, which are effective through December 10, 2005, is to allow the herring fleet to continue its normal fishing operations for the 2005 fishing year despite the presence of two large year classes of haddock, without providing an incentive for the industry to target haddock, and without causing harm to the Georges Bank haddock resource.
New Management Measures Take Effect in the Commercial and Recreational Pacific Groundfish Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries Service has implemented new management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. Changes to the trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) and the limited entry trawl trip limits were implemented May 1, 2005. This action contains notification of a voluntary closed area off Washington for salmon trollers, to avoid bycatch of yelloweye rockfish. NOAA Fisheries Service is also allowing incidental halibut retention for limited entry longline vessels in the primary sablefish fishery north of Pt. Chehalis, WA during 2005. Together, these actions will allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting depleted stocks.
Bycatch Limits and Specifications Established for the 2005 Whiting Fishery
This final rule establishes the 2005 fishery specifications for Pacific whiting in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and state waters off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, as authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. These specifications include the level of the acceptable biological catch, optimum yield, tribal allocation, and allocations for the non-tribal commercial sectors. The whiting fisheries are generally very fast paced, with sporadic and unpredictable rates of incidental catch. This rule also establishes revised canary and widow rockfish bycatch limits for the whiting fisheries, in order to keep the harvest of these overfished species within their optimum yields.
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