Final Annual Determination for 2022

NOAA Fisheries will not identify additional fisheries to observe on the 2022 Annual Determination (AD), pursuant to its authority under the Endangered Species Act. Through the AD, NOAA Fisheries identifies U.S. fisheries operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Ocean that will be required to take observers upon request. The purpose of observing identified fisheries is to learn more about sea turtle bycatch in a given fishery, evaluate measures to prevent or reduce sea turtle bycatch, and implement the prohibition against sea turtle takes. Fisheries identified on the 2018 and 2020 ADs remain on the AD for a 5-year period and are required to carry observers upon request until December 31, 2022, and September 29, 2025, respectively.