Gulf of Maine Menhaden Purse Seine 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 |
Estimated Number of Participants |
>2 |
Target Species |
menhaden |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
None |
Observer Coverage |
Observer coverage is mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
None documented |
^ 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.
Basis for Current Classification
There have been no documented cases of marine mammals injured/killed in this fishery.
Distribution
This fishery operates in the Gulf of Maine.
Gear Description
This fishery uses purse seine gear. A purse seine is a floated and weighted encircling net that is closed by means of a drawstring threaded through rings attached to the bottom of the net. Purse seines vary in size according to the size of the vessel and the depth to be fished.
Management
This fishery is managed under ASFMC through an interstate fisheries management plan.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants |
10 |
Basis for Original Classification |
Fishery was grouped with Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery in proposed LOF. Divided for final list because incidental take of bottlenose dolphins in this portion are unlikely (<1% PBR for all stocks). May interact with harbor seals, minke whales, and humpback whales, but NOAA Fisheries believes these interactions would not represent a mortality or serious injury rate at >1% of PBR. |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
2011 |
|
1998 |
|