


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.
Category |
II |
Estimated Number of Participants |
295 |
Target Species |
sablefish |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
None |
Observer Coverage |
20% of observed biomass* |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Northern elephant seal, California; Sperm whale, North Pacific; Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S.; Steller sea lion, Western U.S. |
^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.
*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).
1 Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
The AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline fishery is classified as Category II based on interactions with North Pacific sperm whales. Given the current mean estimated annual mortality and serious injury (M/SI) of sperm whales in this fishery, NOAA Fisheries cannot conclude the plain language definition for Category III, “a remote likelihood of or no known incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals” is appropriate at this time. Instead, the Category II definition, “occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals” is more appropriate for this fishery.
In offshore and coastal waters of the Gulf of Alaska, typically March –November.
Hook and line fisheries with various configurations of hook/bait/gear.
NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the sablefish fishery in Alaska.
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (2004) |
Original Number of Participants |
412 |
Basis for Original Classification |
No documented marine mammal interactions in observer, logbook, or stranding data available. |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
2023 |
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2022 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
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2019 |
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2018 |
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2015 |
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2013 |
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2009 |
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2006 |
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2004 |
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