Hawaiʻi Shallow-set Longline Fishery Interactions with Leatherback Sea Turtles

2024 Interactions

This table is updated when a leatherback sea turtle interaction is reported. If no interactions are reported, the table is updated quarterly. Until finalized post-season, these numbers are the sum of available in-season reports only.

Background

Regulations governing the Hawaiʻi shallow-set pelagic longline fishery include annual limits on the number of interactions that occur between fishing vessels and leatherback sea turtles. The annual fleet-wide interaction limit (hard cap) is 16 leatherback sea turtles and if the hard cap is reached, the Hawaiʻi shallow-set longline fishery is closed for the remainder of the calendar year. There is no annual fleet-wide interaction limit for other sea turtle species.

NOAA Fisheries places at-sea observers aboard every shallow-set longline fishing trip (100% observer coverage) to monitor sea turtle interactions and collect other fisheries data.

See the July 2022 Compliance Guide and 50 CFR 665.813 for more information on annual and other interaction limits, required reporting, and handling requirements for sea turtles and other protected species. The Pacific Island Regional Observer Program's quarterly and annual reports provide more information about protected species interactions with U.S. longline vessels in the Pacific.

Historical Interactions