



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 |
265 |
Target Species |
Menhaden, croaker |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
N/A |
Observer Coverage |
There has not been observer coverage in this fishery |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Bottlenose dolphin, unknown (Northern migratory coastal or Southern migratory coastal) |
^ 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.
By analogy with other Category II gillnet fisheries that use similar gear and operate in a similar manner to this fishery. Also, because of the potential for interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Western North Atlantic [WNA] stock).
The fishery operates between the Chesapeake Bay/Bridge Tunnel and the mainland.
This fishery uses gillnet gear with mesh sizes ranging from 2.75-5 in (7- 12.7 cm), depending on the target species.
The fishery is managed under the Inter-state Fishery Management Plans for Atlantic menhaden and Atlantic croaker managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants |
45 |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was listed as Category III because there was no information to suggest that mortality and serious injury to any marine mammal species/stock occurred. Also, likelihood of encounters was low based on the distribution of marine mammal stocks in the areas with effort in this fishery. This fishery was separated from other mid-Atlantic gillnet fisheries to account for differences in marine mammal distribution. NOAA Fisheries stated that a closer examination of recent records may provide information to support reclassification. |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
Harbor porpoise (Gulf of ME/Bay of Fundy); bottlenose dolphin (WNA) |
2021 |
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
|
2013 |
|
2012 |
|
2011 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2001 |
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