Biological Opinion on the U.S. Tuna Purse Seine Fishery in the WCPO
November 01, 2006
NOAA Fisheries’ biological opinion of the effects of the continued authorization of the United States Western and Central Pacific purse seine fishery on species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
This document represents NOAA Fisheries’ biological opinion (Opinion) of the effects of the continued authorization of the United States (U.S.) Western and Central Pacific (WCPO) purse seine fishery on species protected under the Endangered Species Act. This Opinion is based on our review of the April 24, 2006 Biological Assessment (BA) prepared by the International Fisheries Program recovery plans for U.S. Pacific populations of listed sea turtles and humpback whales, the most current marine mammal stock assessment reports, published and unpublished scientific information on the biology and ecology of threatened and endangered whales and sea turtles in the action area, population dynamics modeling efforts, monitoring reports from prior fishing activity and research in the region, and biological opinions on similar actions.