Northeast Mid-Water 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 |
542 |
Target Species |
Atlantic herring with bycatch of several finfish species, predominantly mackerel, spiny dogfish, and silver hake |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
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Observer Coverage |
During the period 1997-2018, estimated percent observer coverage (trips) was 0, 0, 0.73, 0.46, 0.06, 0, 2.25, 11.48, 19.9, 3.1, 8.04, 19.92, 42, 53, 41, 45, 37, 42, 8, 27, 16 and 14, respectively. Observer coverage for 2010 -2018 includes both observers and at-sea monitors. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Common dolphin, WNA; Gray seal, WNA; Harbor seal, WNA; Long-finned pilot whale, WNA; White-sided dolphin, WNA. |
Basis for Current Classification
The total annual mortality and serious injury of long-finned pilot whales (Western North Atlantic [WNA] stock) in this fishery is greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stocks’ Potential Biological Removal (PBR).
Distribution
The fishery occurs primarily in Maine state waters, Jeffrey's Ledge, southern New England, and Georges Bank during the winter months when the target species continues its southerly migration from the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank, into mid-Atlantic waters. This fishery includes all U.S. waters south of Cape Cod, MA that are east of 70° W and extending south to the intersection of the EEZ and 70° W (approximately 37° 54'N), as well as all U.S. waters north of Cape Cod to the Maine-Canada border.”
Gear Description
This fishery uses primarily mid-water (pelagic) trawls (single and paired), which is trawl gear designed, capable, or used to fish for pelagic species with no portion designed to be operated in contact with the bottom.
Management
The fishery is managed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Total Effort
Total effort, measured in trips, for the Northeast Mid-Water Trawl Fishery (across all gear types) from 1997 to 2013 was 578, 289, 553, 1,312, 2,404, 1,736, 2,158, 1,564, 717, 590, 286, 236, 236, 294, 331, 413, 291, 321, 333 and 248 (NOAA Fisheries).
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (1999) |
Original Number of Participants |
17 |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was listed as a Category II by analogy with the Category II "Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery". NOAA Fisheries had no evidence of interactions with marine mammals, but this fishery uses the same midwater trawl gear used in other Category II fisheries known to take several species of cetaceans, and operates at times and in areas of high marine mammal abundance (particularly the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock of harbor porpoise). This fishery includes vessels that were participating in the "Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-Atlantic, coastal herring trawl fishery," which was removed from the LOF because there was little difference between vessels or gear fishing coastal waters or offshore waters. |
Past Names |
“Atlantic herring mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) fishery” until 2005. |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
Minke whale (Canadian East Coast); Short-finned pilot whale, WNA |
Timeline of Changes
2024 |
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2019 |
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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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2006 |
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2005 |
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2001 |
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1998 |
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