Northeast Drift Gillnet 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 |
1,036 |
Target Species |
shad, herring, mackerel, and menhaden and any residual large pelagic driftnet effort in New England |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
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Observer Coverage |
During the period 1990-2013, estimated observer coverage (number of trips observed/total commercial trips reported) for Northeast sink gillnet, Northeast anchored float gillnet, and Northeast driftnet fisheries was 1, 6, 7, 5, 7, 5, 4, 6, 5, 6, 6, 4, 2, 3, 6, 7, 4, 7, 5, 4, 17, 19, 15, and 11, respectively. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
None documented |
Basis for Current Classification
Based on analogy to other Northeast gillnet fisheries that use similar gear and operate in a similar manner to this fishery.
Distribution
The fishery includes any residual large pelagic driftnet effort in New England and occurs at any depth in the water column from the U.S.-Canada border to Long Island, New York, at 72° 30'W. long. south to 36° 33.03'N. lat. (corresponding with the Virginia-North Carolina border) and east to the eastern edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Gear Description
This fishery uses drift gillnet gear, which is gillnet gear not anchored to the bottom and is free-floating on both ends or free-flowing at one end and attached to the vessel at the other end. Mesh sizes are likely less than those used to target large pelagics.
Management
The fishery is managed under the Interstate Fishery Management Plans for Atlantic Menhaden and Shad (managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) and is subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations. A total closure of the American shad ocean intercept fishery was fully implemented in January, 2005.
Total Effort
(includes descriptions of Northeast anchored float and Northeast drift gillnets) Total metric tons of fish landed from 1998 to 2011 were 22,933, 18,681, 14,487, 14, 634, 15,201, 17,680, 19,080, 15.390, 14,950, 15,808, 18,808, 17,207, 18,170, 19,279 and 17,490 respectively (NOAA Fisheries). Data on total quantity of gear fished (i.e., number of sets) have not been reported consistently among commercial gillnet fishermen on vessel logbooks, and, therefore, will not be reported here.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (2001) |
Original Number of Participants |
Unknown |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was categorized as a Category II based on analogy with other gillnet fisheries and a recommendation by the Atlantic Scientific Review Group to place this fishery in Category II. The fishery was added to the LOF to ensure that drift gillnet fisheries for target fish species other than large pelagic species were included on the LOF. This fishery does not include any sink gillnet fishing in Category III inshore gillnet fisheries. |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
2017 |
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2016 |
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2013 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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2009 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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2001 |
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