Pelagic Longline Bluefin Tuna Area-Based and Weak Hook Management Measures
Summary
NOAA Fisheries is proposing to adjust regulatory measures put in place to manage bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), specifically addressing the Northeastern United States Closed Area, the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area as well as the weak hook requirement in the Gulf of Mexico.
The proposed measures would affect the HMS pelagic longline fishery in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The preferred alternatives are summarized below.
Preferred Alternatives Summary
| Topic | Preferred Alternative in FEIS |
|---|---|
| Northeastern United States Closed Area |
Alternative A4 |
| Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area | Alternative B2 Elimination of the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area. |
| Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area | Alternative C3 Undertake a review process to evaluate the continued need for the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area. Includes a provision to ensure that the threshold for closure of the area effectively remains the same (percentage-wise) in the event that the U.S. allocation of bluefin tuna is reduced at a future ICCAT meeting. |
| Weak hooks | Alternative D2 Seasonal requirement for weak hooks. |
Changes Since Draft Environmental Impact Statement
NOAA Fisheries made clarifying additions to the preferred alternatives for the Northeastern United States Closed Area and Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area. The FEIS includes a provision to ensure that the threshold for the closure of the area effectively remains the same (percentage-wise) in the event that the U.S. allocation of bluefin tuna is reduced at ICCAT.
Another minor change that has been made from the DEIS to this FEIS clarifies the timing of inseason closure notices that could occur in response to thresholds being met for the Northeastern United States Monitoring Area and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Area.
Area Map
