Bycatch of harbor porpoises in three U.S. gillnet management areas : Southern Mid-Atlantic, offshore, and western Gulf of Maine

Details

• Personal Author:
  Orphanides, Christopher ; Palka, Debra L., 1959-
• Corporate Authors:
  Northeast Fisheries Science Center (U.S.)
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center)
• Description:
  "The conservation benefits of three gillnet management areas (Southern Mid-Atlantic Area, the Offshore Management Area, and the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area) in reducing harbor porpoise bycatch during 2005 and 2006 were investigated retrospectively by estimating the bycatches that would have occurred if the management measures in the first two areas had not been implemented and the Closure Area not enacted. Bycatch estimates were derived based upon re-opening the Southern Mid-Atlantic Management Area during February 15-March 15, and removing the pinger requirement in the Offshore Management Area during November 1-May 31. Under these assumptions, the estimated annual bycatch of harbor porpoise in the Southern Mid-Atlantic Area during February 15 to March 15 would have been 2 and 3 animals in 2005 and 2006, respectively. In the Offshore Management Area, the estimated annual bycatch of harbor porpoise during November to May in 2005 and 2006 would have ranged between 0 and 32 animals. The estimated annual bycatch of harbor porpoises in the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area during 1989-1997 (before the area was closed) averaged 585 animals, varying between 57 animals in 1997 to 748 animals in 1990. These results suggest that all three gillnet management areas provide significant benefits in reducing incidental takes of harbor porpoise"--Publication's home page.
• Content Notes:
  by Christopher D. Orphanides and Debra L. Palka. ; "July 2008." ; Includes bibliographical references.
• Series:
  Northeast Fisheries Science Center reference document ; 08-09
• Document Type:
  Reference Document
• Place as Subject:
  Maine, Gulf of ; Atlantic Coast (Middle Atlantic States) ; United States ; Atlantic Coast (North America) ; North Atlantic Ocean
• Rights Information:
  Public Domain
• Compliance:
  Library
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/3574/noaa_3574_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 706.91 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:70c5b5c1be57def0a3c9d216a83ee7da3d4750f487f4ac8f504832912bab9d1505e284e3df8d903954481e0cb89c43df3d9759ff5bd10b869cc25f95282a049c