Overview
The goal of the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (Plan) is to reduce serious injuries and deaths of several marine mammal stocks incidental to the California/Oregon thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery.
The Plan
The Team
NMFS convened the Team [pdf] in February 1996 to address incidental serious injury and mortality of Baird's beaked whales, Cuvier's beaked whales, Mesoplodont species of beaked whales, short-finned pilot whales, pygmy sperm whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales in the California/Oregon swordfish drift gillnet fishery. (Note: Unlinked documents are available upon request.)
Forming Partnerships: U.S. West Coast Fisheries
This video highlights some West coast fisheries and their positive efforts to fish responsibly as well as interviews with scientists who discuss sustainable fishing issues.
Written, produced, directed, edited, and narrated by John Dutton.
More Information
Humpback whales swimming underwater. Credit: Kogia.org
A Rice’s whale just under the surface of the water in the Gulf of Mexico. This endangered whale was recognized as a separate species from the Bryde’s whale in 2021. Credit: NOAA Fisheries under NOAA Permit No. 21938.
Pair of bottlenose dolphins. Credit: NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Lisa Morse.
A humpback mother and calf swimming off the West Coast. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ed Lyman. NOAA Fisheries Permit #14682.