False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team

What's New? · Proposed Rule [pdf]   --References Cited ·Draft EA/RIR/IRFA [pdf] open for comment thru 10/17/2011 · Draft Take Reduction Plan to Reduce Bycatch of False Killer Whales in Hawaii-based Longline Fisheries [pdf] · Team Meeting #3 Summary: June 15-18, 2010 [pdf] · Team Meeting #2 Summary: April 6-9, 2010 [pdf] · Contact a Team Member [pdf] · Team Meeting #1 Summary: February 17-19, 2010 [pdf] · FAQs on the Take Reduction Process [pdf]

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 will consider the Plan submitted by the Team and develop a proposed rule, which will be available for public comment. After considering these comments, NMFS will finalize and implement the Plan. Once the Plan becomes effective, NMFS will monitor its 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 would re-convene the Team to develop additional measures.

Meetings of the Team

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 the Take Reduction Process [pdf]
• 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: December 15, 2011