High Seas Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries - MMPA List of Fisheries
Learn about the 2024 classification of the High Seas Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fisheries.
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Gear types | Longline, handline/pole and line, troll |
Category* | Category I - longlineCategory II - handline/pole and line, troll |
Estimated Number of Participants** ^ | Longline component - 30; Handline/pole and line - 0; Troll - 0 |
Target species | Atlantic swordfish and bigeye tuna are the primary target species on the high seas, with Atlantic yellowfin, albacore and skipjack tunas, and pelagic and some deepwater sharks also caught and retained for sale. Bluefin tuna are caught incidental to pelagic longline operations, both on the high seas and within U.S. waters, and may be retained subject to specific target catch requirements |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans | Longline gear used in this fishery is subject to the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (PLTRP). |
Observer Coverage | Observer coverage for the Category I “Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery” operating in U.S. waters (between 4%-15% from 2000-2008, depending on the geographic location††) extends into the high seas. Observer data are not available for the Category II Atlantic HMS high seas fisheries. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured | Longline component†: Atlantic spotted dolphin, Western North Atlantic (WNA); Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico (GMX) oceanic; Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore; Common dolphin, WNA; Cuvier’s beaked whale, WNA; False killer whale, WNA; Killer whale, GMX oceanic; Kogia spp. whale (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), WNA; Long-finned pilot whale, WNA; Mesoplodon beaked whale, WNA; Minke whale, Canadian East coast; Pantropical spotted dolphin, WNA; Risso’s dolphin, GMX and WNA; Short-finned pilot whale, WNA. Handline/pole and line/pole and line: No information. Troll: No information. |
† The observer program for the Category I pelagic longline fishery operating in U.S waters extends into the high seas, so information is available on which marine mammal stocks are incidentally taken by this fishery on the high seas.
** The number of vessels and participants operating in the Atlantic HMS High Seas fishery do not necessarily represent additional fishers than those accounted for in fisheries operating within U.S. waters. Many fishers holding Atlantic HMS high seas fishing permits also fish within U.S. waters and are included in the numbers of estimated vessels and participants operating within those fisheries. The number of participants listed represents only the number of permits for the high seas component of the fishery.
^ Number of participants estimates are based on HSFCA 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 longline component of this high seas fishery is classified as a Category I because it is an extension of the Category I “Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery” operating within U.S. waters, and is not a separate fishery. The gear used, fishing methods, and target species are the same, and longline vessels targeting Atlantic HMS regularly cross into the high seas, and back, when fishing.
The gillnet, handline/pole and line, and troll components of this high seas fishery are classified as Category II due to the lack of specific information on marine mammal abundance and interactions with fisheries on the high seas.
Distribution
The fishery management area for Atlantic HMS includes U.S. waters and the adjacent high seas. The high seas components of Atlantic HMS fisheries are extensions of various Category I, II, and III fisheries operating in U.S. waters.
Gear Description
The high seas Atlantic Highly Migratory Species fisheries are similar to fisheries targeting Atlantic HMS within U.S. waters, but primarily use pelagic longline gear. Within U.S. waters, HMS commercial fishers use several gear types. Authorized gear for tuna include spear gun (except when targeting bluefin), rod and reel, handline/pole and lines, bandit gear, harpoon, pelagic longline, trap (pound net and fish weir), and purse seine. Purse seines used to target bluefin tuna must have a mesh size of less than or equal to 4.5 in (11.4 cm) and at least 24–count thread throughout the net. Only rod and reel gear may be used to target billfish and commercial possession of Atlantic billfish is prohibited. Authorized gear for sharks includes rod and reel, handline/pole and line, bandit gear, longline, and gillnet. Gillnets must be less than or equal to 2.5 km (1.6 mi) in length. Authorized gear for swordfish includes handline/pole and line, handgear (including buoy gear), and longline for north Atlantic swordfish, and longline for south Atlantic swordfish. North Atlantic swordfish incidentally taken in squid trawls may be retained.
Management
Atlantic HMS are managed under regulations implementing the Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (2006), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Regulations issued under the MSA address the target fish species, as well as bycatch of species protected by the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The MSA regulations (50 CFR 635) require vessel owners and operators targeting Atlantic HMS with longline or gillnet gear to complete protected species safe handling, release, and identification workshops. The regulations also require shark dealers to complete an Atlantic shark identification workshop. Longline gear targeting Atlantic HMS is subject to regulations under the PLTRP (50 CFR 229.36).
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | Category I- Longline; Category II- gillnet, trawl, handline/pole and line, troll, multipurpose vessels. (2009) |
Original Number of Participants | Longline component- 75; Drift gillnet component- 1; Trawl- 3; Handline/pole and line/Pole and line- 2; Troll- 5; Multipurpose vessels- 1. |
Basis for Original Classification | The longline component of this high seas fishery was classified as a Category I because it is an extension of the Category I “Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery” operating within U.S. waters, and is not a separate fishery. The gear used, fishing methods, and target species are the same, and longline vessels targeting Atlantic HMS regularly cross into the high seas, and back, when fishing. The gillnet, trawl, handline/pole and line, and troll components of this high seas fishery were classified as Category II due to the lack of specific information on marine mammal abundance and marine mammal-fishery interactions on the high seas. Category II is the appropriate classification for new fisheries on the LOF for which there is little information on which to base a classification. |
Past Names | None |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | N/A |
Timeline of Changes
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 | Longline
Trawl
Handline/pole and line
|
| 2022 | Longline
|
| 2021 | Longline
Handline/pole and line
|
| 2020 | Longline
Troll
|
| 2019 | Longline
Trawl
|
2018 | Drift gillnet
Longline
Trawl
Handline/pole and line
Troll
|
2017 | Drift gillnet
|
2016 | Longline
Handline/pole and line
|
2015 | Longline
Handline/pole and line
Troll
|
2014 |
Longline
Drift gillnet
Trawl
Troll
|
2013 | Longline
Drift gillnet
Trawl
Troll
|
2012 | Longline
Handline/pole and line
|
2011 | Longline
Trawl
Handline/pole and line
|
2010 | Longline:
Trawl:
Handline/pole and line:
Troll:
|