Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP)
Section 316 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended through January 12, 2007, required the Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Councils and other affected interests, and based upon the best scientific information available, to establish a Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP), including grants, to develop technological devices and other conservation engineering changes designed to minimize bycatch, seabird interactions, bycatch mortality, and post-release mortality in Federally managed fisheries. The BREP's first annual Report to Congress was issued in January 2009.
What's New? (Last Updated: 7/1/09 )
Proposed Rule for Amendment 15B to the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
This rule would, among other things, implement a plan to monitor and assess bycatch and implement measures to minimize impacts of incidental takes of sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish. Comments must be received by August 4, 2009.
Final Rule for Amendment 16 to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region
This rule requires, among other things, the use of tools to reduce bycatch mortality of snapper-grouper species.
Proposed Rule for Amendment 18 to the Pelagics Fishery Management Plan
This rule would, among other things, increase the loggerhead sea turtle interaction hard cap to 46 from the current 17. Comments must be received by August 3, 2009.
Final Notice of Annual Antarctic Fishing Conservation Measures
This final notice would, among other things, give effect to measures adopted that research catch and bycatch of certain species of finfish, squid, krill and crabs.
Notice of Availability for Amendment 15B to the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the S. Atlantic Region
This amendment would, among other things, require commercial vessels and charter vessel/headboats with hook-and-line gear onboard to comply with sea turtle and smalltooth sawfish release protocols. Comments must be received by August 3, 2009.
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, and Shark Fisheries
This rulemaking would include provisions to revitalize the swordfish fishery while minimizing bycatch to the extent practicable. Comments must be received by August 31, 2009.
Bioeconomies of Scope and the Discard Problem in Multiple-Species Fisheries
NOAA Awards Grant to World Wildlife Fund to Support Innovation to Reduce Bycatch
Denial of Petitions for Emergency Rulemaking Regarding Sea Turtle Bycatch
Final Rule to Implement the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan
United Nations Report on Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear
Emergency Rule: Bottom Longline Gear Restriction in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery
Removing Fishing Gear from Longline Caught Sea Turtles
Video on this website details, in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, the tools and techniques for safely removing hooks and line from incidentally captured sea turtles.
Action Items and Recent Progress Updates for Regional Bycatch Implemtation Plans Available
Circle Hook Testing Data Template
This template is designed to provide new researchers with a workable data-collection template that identifies the various important fields for data collection that can be easily accessed for later analysis.
Bycatch Workshop at ICES Annual Science Conference (Berlin), September 21-25, 2009
Related Sites
Fishery management councils and commissions. NOAA Fisheries relies on a diverse array of partnerships to help reduce fisheries bycatch, and this site contains links to some of our most prominent partners.
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