NOAA Fisheries Service today published its annual List of Fisheries that classifies each U.S. commercial fishery based on its level of interaction with marine mammals.
Every fishery is placed into one of three categories according to whether it has a frequent (Category I), occasional (Category II), or remote likelihood (Category III) of incidental mortality and serious injury to marine mammals. The list is required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
After reviewing Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports and other new information -- such as observer and marine mammal stranding data – NOAA Fisheries Service determined that no fisheries needed to be reclassified.
However, the Georgia Cannonball Jellyfish Trawl Fishery was added to the list as a Category III fishery based on the remote likelihood its fishermen would seriously injure or kill marine mammals. This is an experimental mid-water trawl fishery that has caused no known marine mammal injuries or deaths.
NOAA Fisheries removed the Oregon Blue Shark Floating Longline Fishery and the Oregon Swordfish Floating Longline Fishery because new regulations prohibit using this type of gear to target highly migratory species in U.S. Pacific waters. As a result, these fisheries are no longer operating. In addition, the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Hand Seine Fishery was removed because the fishery no longer exists.
Commercial fishers who participate in fisheries placed in Category I or II must register with the Marine Mammal Authorization Program and submit a $25 fee, unless registration has been integrated with an existing state or federal registration program. The MMPA requires that all commercial fishers, regardless of category, submit a report NOAA’s Fisheries Service within 48 hours of the end of each fishing trip if a marine mammal is injured or killed incidental to fishing operations.
