CA Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery (>/=14 in mesh) - 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 |
II |
Estimated Number of Participants |
14 |
Target Species |
Thresher shark, swordfish, and mako shark are ~90% of the catch; swordfish, common thresher, pelagic thresher, bigeye thresher, shortfin mako, blue shark, albacore, tunas, dorado, groundfish, coastal pelagics, crab. Other species commonly caught include opah, big-eye thresher, louvar, barracuda, Pacific bonito, mahi mahi, white seabass, and tunas. |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
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Observer Coverage |
Estimated observer coverage from 1990- 2008 was: 4%, 10%, 14%, 13%, 18%, 16%, 12%, 23%, 18%, 20%, 23%, 20%, 22%, 20%, 21%, 21%, 19%, 16%, 13.5%, respectively. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore; California sea lion, U.S.; Dall’s porpoise, CA/OR/WA; Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific; Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA; Long-beaked common dolphin, CA; Minke whale, CA/OR/WA; Pacific white sided dolphin, CA/OR/WA; Northern elephant seal, CA breeding; Northern right whale dolphin, CA/OR/WA; Risso’s dolphin, CA/OR/WA; Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA; Short-finned pilot whale, CA/OR/WA1; Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA1 |
^ 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).
1Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.
Basis for Current Classification
The total annual mortality and serious injury of sperm whales (CA/OR/WA) is more than 50% of the stock's Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.
Distribution
Ranges from the U.S./Mexico border north to waters off of Oregon. The fishery is subject to season-area closures: From February 1-April 30 effort must be more than 200 nmi from shore; May 1-August 14 must be more than 75 nmi from shore; August 15-January 31 must be more than 12 nmi from shore. Majority of the effort occurs in October-December. A season-area closure to protect leatherback sea turtles was implemented in August 200, prohibiting drift gillnet fishing from August 15-November 15 in a set area from Point Sur, CA, to the OR coast. Another season-area closure exists south of Point Conception and east of W120° from June-August during El Nino years to protect loggerhead turtles.
Gear Description
Gear consists of a 1,000 fathom (1,829 m) gillnet with stretched mesh size from 18-22 in (45.7-56 cm), with a 14 in (35.6 cm) minimum. The net is set at dusk and allowed to drift during the night, with the fishing vessel typically attached at one end of the net. The soak duration is typically 12-14 hours depending on length of the night. Net extender lengths of a minimum 36 ft (11 m) became mandatory for the 1997-1998 fishing season, and the use of acoustic warning devices (i.e., pingers) became mandatory October 28, 1997, significantly decreasing cetacean entanglement.
Management
This fishery is a limited entry with seasonal closures and gear restrictions, managed under the Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and by regulations under the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (POCTRP). The FMP includes a series of seasonal and area closures originally promulgated by CA Department of Fish and Game. The POCTRP including a requirement for pingers on drift gillnets, requirement that extenders (buoy lines) be at least 36 feet long, and vessel captains attend skipper education workshops through NOAA Fisheries West Coast Regional Office. OR restricts landing to swordfish only. Gear prohibited off of the WA coast.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
I (1996) |
Original Number of Participants |
150 |
Basis for Original Classification |
Observer data from 1991-1993 indicated that the total annual mortality and serious injury of Pacific sperm whale was more than 50% of the PBR (PBR=1). |
Past Names |
CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (≥14in. mesh) fishery (until 2011); CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (until 2003) |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
Baird's beaked whale (CA/OR/WA); Cuvier's beaked whale (CA/OR/WA); Fin whale (CA/OR/WA); Gray whale (ENP); Killer whale (ENP offshore); Mesoplodont beaked whale (CA/OR/WA); Northern fur seal (San Miguel Island); Pygmy sperm whale (CA/OR/WA); Steller sea lion (Eastern U.S.); Striped dolphin (CA/OR/WA) |
Timeline of Changes
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2019 |
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2018 |
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2017 |
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2015 |
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2014 |
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2013 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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2009 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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2003 |
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1999 |
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1998 |
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