The Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team was established in 2005 (for more information, please see the Federal Register notice announcing the Team) and it is composed commercial fishermen and representatives of the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishing industry, environmental groups, marine mammal biologists, fisheries biologists, and other state and federal officials.
Team Members
Longline Fishery Industry
- Martin Scanlon, Hauppauge, NY
- Kerry Harrington, Berlin, MD
- Bill McIntyre, Montauk, NY
- Jeff Oden, Hatteras, NC
- Terri Beideman, Vast Array Corporation
- Dewey Hemilwright, Wanchese, NC
- Glenn Delaney, Blue Water Consultant
- Vince Pyle, Dania, FL (Alternate: Greg O’Neill, Dania, FL)
Academic and Scientific
- Bill McLellan, University of North Carolina-Wilmington
- Damon Gannon, University of Georgia Marine Institute (Alternate: Andy Read, Duke University Marine Laboratory)
- Tim Werner, OAI Consulting & UMASS-Boston School for the Environment
- David Kerstetter, NOVA Southeastern University- Oceanographic Center
Conservation and Environmental Groups
- Brendan Cummings, Center for Biological Diversity
- Sharon Young, The Humane Society of the U.S.
- The Ocean Conservancy- seat is currently vacant
- Jane Davenport, Defenders of Wildlife
- Beth Lowell, Oceana
Federal and State Government and Fishery Management Organizations
- Fentress “Red” Munden, NC Division of Marine Fisheries
- Rich Seagraves, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
- David Laist, Marine Mammal Commission
- Laura Engleby, NMFS Southeast Regional Office
- Kristy Long, NMFS Office of Protected Resources
More Information
Contact: Erin Fougères, Southeast Region, Take Reduction Team Coordinator, 727-824-5323, erin.fougeres@noaa.gov
NOAA Teacher at Sea Maronda Hastie sailed aboard NOAA Ship Oregon II. Since 1995 the bottom longline survey has been conducted on the Oregon II for shark and bony fish research. Credit: NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
Oceanic whitetip shark. Hawaiʻi longline fishermen use leaders to connect weighed branch lines and baited hooks. A new rule prohibits steel wire leaders in the Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery, starting May 31, 2022. The rule aims to increase the survival of hooked oceanic whitetip sharks caught as bycatch in the Pacific Islands region. Credit: Andy Mann
Right whale #3853 swimming north offshore of South Carolina on Jan. 20, 2011 with a series of fresh propeller wounds running across its back. The whale was observed 5 days previously offshore of Georgia without propeller wounds. It is unknown whether the whale survived its wounds or not, as it has not been re-sighted since. Vessel collisions are a leading cause of right whale mortality. Credit: EcoHealth Alliance (NOAA permit #594-1759).
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.