Cetacean interactions (i.e., hookings and entanglements) with the Hawaii and American Samoa longline fisheries observed during 2007 - 2011 were compiled, and the number of cetacean deaths, serious injuries, and non-serious injuries by fishery, species, and management area were assessed. These values form the basis of the mortality and serious injury estimates included in the stock assessment reports of stocks impacted by these fisheries. Injury determinations were made using a revised process for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries (National Marine Fisheries Service, 2012). In the Hawaii deep-set fishery, 50 cetacean interactions were observed from 2007 to 2011; most involved false killer whales (48.0%), resulted in death or serious injury (73.5%), and occurred outside the U.S. exclusive economic zone, or EEZ (54.0%). In the Hawaii shallow-set fishery, 46 cetacean interactions were observed from 2007 to 2011; most involved Risso's dolphins (45.7%), resulted in death or serious injury (77.2%), and occurred outside the U.S. EEZ (91.3%). In the American Samoa deep-set fishery, 14 cetacean interactions were observed from 2007 to 2011; most involved rough-toothed dolphins (42.9%), resulted in death or serious injury (92.9%), and occurred within the U.S. EEZ (85.7%). [doi:10.7289/V5JM27KJ (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5JM27KJ)]

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)