WA/OR/CA Groundfish, Bottomfish Longline/Set Line Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category | III |
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Estimated Number of Participants | 314 |
Target Species | sablefish, rockfish, other groundfish |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans | N/A |
Observer Coverage | In the limited entry sablefish endorsed fishery, annual coverage from 2009-2018 ranged from 7-46%. In the limited entry non-sablefish endorsed fishery, annual coverage from 2009-2018 ranged from 3-10%. In the open access fixed gear fishery, coverage rates from 2009-2018 ranged from 3-5%. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore California sea lion, U.S. Northern elephant seal, California breeding Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. |
Basis for Current Classification
Classified as a Category III fishery based on the lack of documented mortality or serious injuries of marine mammals based on the available data.
Distribution
The Category III WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line fishery primarily targets sablefish using bottom longline gear, especially during the main season from April through October, however, rockfish are also targeted. There are over 60 different species of rockfish that may be taken, although a handful of species make up the majority of the catch. This includes thornyheads, rougheye, and blackgill rockfish. Other species commonly landed include lingcod, grenadier, and skates. The fishery takes place all along the U.S. West Coast at depths that range from 11-722 fathoms (66-4,332 ft or 20.1-1, 20.4 m).
Gear Description
The gear consists of a mainline made of multifilament line/rope or monofilament line that is typically spooled on a hydraulic drum and set from the stern of a vessel. The main line extends for up to two nautical miles horizontally along the seafloor. It can be fitted with up to 2,000 small gangions tied at intervals along the mainline terminating in a baited hook. The longline is marked on the ocean surface with a float and flagpole at each end that is anchored to the sea floor. Any gear that is not attached to the vessel must be attached to buoys floating on the surface and marked on the upper half with the commercial fishing license identification number at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) in height.
Management
Three options exist under which sablefish or other groundfish such as rockfish may be the target species or incidentally taken. These include: a limited entry permit with fixed gear endorsement and a sablefish quota; a limited entry permit with fixed gear endorsement without a sablefish quota that includes trip limits for different species; and an open access fishery that includes trip limits for different species. Recent regulations in the Groundfish Catch Share sector permit trawl fishermen with Individual Fishery Quotas to harvest sablefish or other groundfish by using other gear types (aka gear switching) that include bottom longlines. There are applicable Federal and state regulations that describe where fishing can take place, including various area and time closures (e.g., Rockfish Conservation Areas).
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants | 367 |
Basis for Original Classification | Listed as Category III based on the lack of documented mortality and serious injury of marine mammals based on the available data. |
Past Names | None |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | None |
Timeline of Changes
2022 |
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2020 |
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2009 | Added bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore. |