False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team

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	False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Photo: NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Background
In January 2010, NMFS established a Take Reduction Team (Team) to address the incidental mortality and serious injury of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in the Hawaii-based deep-set and shallow-set longline fisheries.

The Team was charged with drafting a Take Reduction Plan (Plan) for reducing that mortality and serious injury, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

In November 2009, NMFS convened an informational public meeting to provide:

• Background information on the MMPA Take Reduction Program and Team process
• An overview of key marine mammal abundance and incidental take information, including mortality and serious injury data
• An opportunity for affected stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the problem and parameters prior to formally convening a Team

Though the information meeting was not intended to generate recommendations to NMFS, a meeting summary [pdf] is available.

Process
NMFS established the Team on January 19, 2010 (75 FR 2853 [pdf]).

The Team met four times within six months to develop a draft Plan by consensus and submitted the draft to NMFS on July 19, 2010. NMFS considered the draft Plan submitted by the Team, and published a proposed rule to implement the Plan on July 18, 2011.

The public comment period for the proposed rule closed on October 17, 2011.

NMFS considered the comments received and published a Final Rule on November 29, 2012.

NMFS will monitor the Plan's progress and ensure it is meeting the MMPA goal of reducing mortality and serious injury of false killer whales incidental to the fisheries addressed by the Plan. If mortality and serious injury is not reduced to appropriate levels, NMFS will reconvene the Team to develop additional measures.

Meetings

9. May 29-31, 2013
   NOAA Fisheries Honolulu Service Center
   Pier 38, Honolulu Harbor
   Honolulu, Oahu, HI
   • Documents coming soon

8. March 8, 2013
   Teleconference
   • Teleconference summary [pdf]

7. December 7, 2012
   Webinar
   • Webinar Summary [pdf]

6. October 4, 2011
   Teleconference
   • Teleconference Summary [pdf]

5. July 27-29, 2011
   Moana Surfrider
   Honolulu, Oahu, HI
   • Meeting #5 Summary [pdf]

4. July 13-16, 2010
   Moana Surfrider
   Honolulu, Oahu, HI
   • Draft Take Reduction Plan [pdf] (serves as the Summary for Meeting 4)

3. June 15-18, 2010
   Turtle Bay Resort
   Kahuku, Oahu, HI
   • Meeting #3 Summary [pdf]

2. April 6-9, 2010
   Maui Sheraton
   Lahaina, Maui, HI
   • Meeting #2 Summary [pdf]

1. February 17-19, 2010
   Sheraton Waikiki
   Honolulu, Oahu, HI
   • Meeting #1 summary [pdf]

• "Pre-Team" Meeting: November 19-20, 2009
  Honolulu, Oahu, HI
  • "Pre-Team" meeting summary

More Information

• Contact a Team Member [pdf]
• FAQs on False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team and Plan
• Team Meeting Planning
• NMFS False Killer Whale Species Information
• NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office False Killer Whale Information
• NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center False Killer Whale Information
• Take Reduction Planning

Updated: May 2, 2013