Final Biological Opinion on the Continued Authorization for the Hawaiʻi Pelagic Shallow-Set Longline Fishery
June 27, 2019
NOAA Fisheries biological opinion on the continued operation of the Hawaiʻi shallow-set longline fishery concludes that the fishery, as currently managed, is not likely to jeopardize any ESA-listed species under NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction, or adversely affect any critical habitat that has been designated for those species.
NOAA Fisheries has determined that several reasonable and prudent measures are necessary and appropriate to minimize the impacts of the fishery on threatened and endangered species. These measures, and their associated terms and conditions, require NOAA Fisheries to 1) develop a minimization measure, or a suite of minimization measures designed to reduce the incidental capture and mortality of leatherback and loggerhead turtles; and 2) to use temporal and spatial data to inform decision-making to reduce the incidental capture and mortality of oceanic whitetip sharks. Specific terms and conditions include establishing annual fleet-wide interaction limits of 16 leatherback turtles and establishing trip limits for interactions with loggerhead and leatherback turtles.
For questions on this biological opinion, please contact alexis.gutierrez@noaa.gov.