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Final Rule
 Modifications to Pelagic Longline Bluefin Tuna Area-Based and Weak Hook Management Measures
The final rule that modifies bluefin tuna bycatch management measures in the pelagic longline fishery is now available. The rule is expected to relieve unnecessary regulatory burdens on pelagic longline fishermen while continuing to manage and conserve fish stocks, including bluefin tuna and billfish, within available, science-based quotas established by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The final rule goes into effect April 2, 2020.
Who is affected?
This final rule could affect any U.S. pelagic longline commercial fishermen who fish in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Why is it needed?
Over time, NOAA Fisheries has adopted a suite of measures to reduce bluefin tuna interactions in the pelagic longline fishery, including mandatory weak hook use, time/area closures, gear restricted areas, electronic monitoring, and the Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) Program, which was adopted in 2015 through Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Under this suite of measures, quotas for target species have continued to be significantly underharvested and available IBQ allocation remains unused at the end of each year. That indicates that all of the measures in tandem may not be necessary to appropriately limit incidental catch of bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery and may not best achieve other management objectives, such as allowing fishermen a reasonable opportunity to harvest available quotas.
We began this rulemaking process because:
- Of a shift in our approach beginning in 2015 to managing the bluefin tuna incidental catch in the pelagic longline fishery that focuses on individual vessel accountability via the IBQ Program.
- The Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program has demonstrated that the program has reduced annual bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery by 65 percent—or more than 330,000 pounds—compared to levels of bluefin tuna bycatch that occurred prior to the implementation of Amendment 7 management measures.
- Of continued underharvest of quotas in pelagic longline target fisheries, particularly swordfish.
- Of requests from the public and the Advisory Panel to remove regulations that are perceived by some constituent groups to be unnecessarily burdensome and restrictive if they were no longer needed to achieve conservation objectives in light of the success of measures like the Individual Bluefin Quota Program.
- NOAA Fisheries stated in Amendment 7 of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP that it would conduct a three-year evaluation of two gear restricted areas: Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area.
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What would it do?
A breakdown of the rule actions is provided below. The rule is effective on April 2, 2020.
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Topic
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Action
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| Northeastern United States Closed Area |
Undertake a review process to evaluate the continued need for the Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline Closure. Includes provisions to reduce the threshold in the event that the U.S. allocation of bluefin tuna is reduced at a future International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meeting and to clarify the timing of certain operational processes associated with this alternative. |
| Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area |
Eliminate the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area.
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| Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area |
Undertake a review process to evaluate the continued need for the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area. Includes provisions to reduce the threshold in the event that the U.S. allocation of bluefin tuna is reduced at a future International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meeting and to clarify the timing of certain operational processes associated with this alternative.
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| Weak hooks |
Seasonal requirement for weak hooks. |
This rule includes minor clarifying changes from the proposed rule. A description of those, as well as a link to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, are available at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/pelagic-longline-bluefin-tuna-area-based-and-weak-hook-management-measures.
What do fishermen need to do to comply with new requirements?
To comply with this rule, fishermen must take the following actions. These are in addition to other requirements for the pelagic longline fishery.
- NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor the fishing locations of vessels via VMS and monitor bluefin tuna catch via VMS set reports. Additionally, as of April 2, and as soon as VMS forms are updated by vendors (update currently in progress), vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear in the monitoring areas must select specific location codes when submitting set reports through their VMS systems:
- Spring Gulf of Mexico Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area: Area 4
- Northeastern United States Pelagic Longline Monitoring Area: Area 5
- Pelagic longline vessels fishing in the Gulf of Mexico are required to use weak hooks from January 1–June 30.
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Fishery Bulletins and Notices
Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations directory to learn more about recent federal management actions affecting Atlantic highly migratory species.
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Questions?
Contact Craig Cockrell at 301-427-8503 or Jennifer Cudney at 727-824-5399.
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