Mid-Atlantic Mid-Water Trawl (includes pair trawl) 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 |
II |
Estimated Number of Participants |
320 |
Target Species |
Atlantic mackerel, chub mackerel, and miscellaneous other pelagic species |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
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Observer Coverage |
During the period 1997-2018, estimated percent observer coverage (trips) was 0, 0, 1.01, 8.43, 0, 0.77, 3.50, 12.16, 8.40, 8.90, 3.85, 13.33, 13.2, 25, 41, 21, 7, 5, 3, 6, 8 and 24, respectively. Observer coverage for 2010-2018 includes both observers and at-sea monitors. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore; Harbor seal, WNA |
Basis for Current Classification
The total annual mortality and serious injury of white-sided dolphins (Western North Atlantic [WNA] stock) in this fishery is greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stock’s Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.
Distribution
The fishery for Atlantic mackerel occurs primarily from southern New England through the mid-Atlantic from January-March and in the Gulf of Maine during the summer and fall (May-December). The Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl fishery includes all waters due east from the NC/SC border to the EEZ and north to Cape Cod, MA in waters west of 70° W. long.
Gear Description
This fishery uses both single and pair trawls, which are designed, capable, or used to fish for pelagic species with no portion of the gear designed to be operated in contact with the bottom of the ocean.
Management
This fishery is managed under the Federal Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan using an annual quota system.
Total Effort
Total effort, measured in trips, for the Mid-Atlantic Mid-Water Trawl Fishery (across both gear types) from 1997 to 2013 was 331, 223, 374, 166, 408, 261, 428, 360, 359, 405, 312, 255, 280,173, 140, 143, 284, 192, 211 and 217 respectively (NOAA Fisheries).
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (1996) |
Original Number of Participants |
620 |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was listed as a Category II based on logbook data. Observer data existed but was not available for the 1996 LOF. This fishery consisted of the "Mid-Atlantic squid trawl fishery" and the "Mid-Atlantic mackerel trawl" as defined in the 1994 LOF (developed under section 114 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prior to the establishment of section 118 and the current LOF provisions). This fishery was joined with the butterfish trawl to parallel the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and titled the “Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery” to indicate the target species. Data averaged over 1990-1992 showed that the incidental mortality and serious injury was of 5 pilot whales/year, which was more than 1% and less than 50% PBR for short- and- long-finned pilot whales (combined as one stock for the purposes of analysis because the similarities between the species made it difficult for observers to identify the species). |
Past Names |
“Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery” 1996-2005; “Atlantic mid-water trawl fishery” in the proposed 1996 LOF; “Mid-Atlantic squid trawl fishery" and the "Mid-Atlantic mackerel trawl fishery” prior to 1996. |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
gray seal (WNA); long-finned whale (WNA); Risso’s dolphin (WNA); short-finned whale (WNA); white-sided dolphin (WNA). |
Timeline of Changes
2021 |
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2019 |
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2018 |
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2017 |
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2016 |
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2014 |
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2013 |
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2010 |
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2011 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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2001 |
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1997 |
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