Final environmental assessment, final regulatory impact review, and final regulatory flexibility analysis for a final rule to require the use of weak hooks on pelagic longline vessels in the Gulf of Mexico

Details

• Personal Author:
  Menashes, Emily H.
• Corporate Authors:
  United States, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, ; United States, National Marine Fisheries Service., Highly Migratory Species Division,
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)
• Description:
  "Since 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has conducted research on pelagic longline (PLL) vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to reduce the discards of large Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Interim results show that the use of a weak hook can significantly reduce the amount of BFT caught by PLL vessels with some reductions in the catches of target species, yellowfin tuna (YFT) and swordfish. This action will require the use of weak hooks to reduce bycatch of BFT, allow normal operation of PLL fisheries in the GOM with minimal short-term adverse socio-economic impacts, and have both short and long-term beneficial ecological impacts on the stock status of BFT, a historically overfished species. This measure will be consistent with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. This action is not expected to significantly alter current fishing practices or increase fishing effort, would not be expected to change previously analyzed endangered species or marine mammal interaction rates or magnitudes, or affect critical habitat"--Cover letter.
• Keywords:
  Bluefin Tuna Bycatches (Fisheries) Conservation Endangered Species Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policy Equipment And Supplies Fishery Management Fishery Policy Government Policy Longlining (Fisheries) Bluefin Tuna Endangered Species Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policy Equipment And Supplies Fishery Management Fishery Policy Government Policy

  More +
• Format:
  pdf
• Document Type:
  Environmental Assessment
• Place as Subject:
  Mexico, Gulf of ; United States
• Rights Information:
  Public Domain
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c6f1cd067bdc0850ab62a74c5dcf9812dcc90ca684d880764b90e9db04a6dd4cb3bda82fe1d2c5ef470483927b9944df8b4e57248dfb0c14f795311d6c326230
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/4106/noaa_4106_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.82 MB ]