Virginia Pound Net 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 |
20 |
Target Species |
Weakfish, spot, and croaker |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
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Observer Coverage |
There has not been formal observer coverage in this fishery; however, the Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) has monitoring and characterization that occurs sporadically in this fishery. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Bottlenose dolphin, Northern migratory coastal1; Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system; Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal1 |
Basis for Current Classification
The 2010 LOF included a superscript “1” following bottlenose dolphin (WNA coastal stock) because the annual mortality and serious injury of that stock in this fishery was greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stock’s Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level. When the stocks of bottlenose dolphins killed/injured in this fishery were updated on the 2011 LOF, the superscript “1” was retained after each of these stocks because NOAA Fisheries cannot yet differentiate to which stock a killed/injured animal belongs. Until NOAA Fisheries is able to do so, each stock of bottlenose dolphin is considered to be driving the classification of the fishery.
Distribution
Effort in this fishery occurs in nearshore coastal and estuarine waters off Virginia. This fishery includes all pound net effort in Virginia state waters, including waters inside the Chesapeake Bay.
Gear Description
This fishery uses stationary gear. Pound net gear includes a large mesh lead posted perpendicular to the shoreline and extending outward to the corral, or "heart," where the catch accumulates.
Management
The fishery is managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission under the Interstate Fishery Management Plans for Atlantic croaker and spot, and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
II (2001) |
Original Number of Participants |
187 |
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was categorized as a Category II based on evidence of coastal bottlenose dolphin mortality in pound nets, especially in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. NOAA Fisheries proposed to list the fishery to cover the entire mid-Atlantic; however, it was limited to Virginia because of where interactions occurred. Other pound net effort was incorporated into the Category III "U.S. mid-Atlantic mixed species stop seine/weir/pound net fishery." Using stranding data only (therefore minimum estimates) from 1993- 1997, 2 (or 0.4 animals/year) bottlenose dolphin carcasses were found with marks consistent with pound nets, which was 1.6% of PBR (PBR=25). One other stranding in the area was suspected to be from an interaction with pound net gear. |
Past Names |
N/A |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
2021 |
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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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2010 |
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2006 |
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