Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP)

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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: 2/1/10 )

Collaborative Fisheries Research Fellowship Announcement
Applications due March 31, 2010.

Proposed Rule to Implement Amendment 31 to the FMP for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
Amendment 31 would address sea turtle bycatch in the bottom longline fishery. Comments must be received by March 1, 2010.

Notice of Availability of Amendment 31 to the FMP for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

61st Tuna Conference, May 17-20, Lake Arrowhead, CA
This conference's theme is "It's Not About the Catch, but the Bycatch."

Can We Increase Haddock Yield Within the Constraints of the Magnuson-Stevens Act?
This paper examines the effects of selective gear on a fishery.

Final Rule to Implement Amendment 18 to the Western Pacific Pelagics FMP
This rule removes annual limits on the number of shallow-set longline fishing gear sets and increases the allowable limit on interactions with loggerhead sea turtles. This rule is designed to encourage optimum yield from the fishery while minimizing turtle bycatch.

2009 Project Report: Update on Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Bluefin Tuna Mitigation Research

Bycatch Communication Network Newsletter, Nov.-Dec. 2009

NMFS National Observer Program 2008 Annual Report

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.

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.