NOAA Fisheries: Sea Turtle Bycatch Measures in Atlantic Trawl Fisheries -- Upcoming Information Gathering!

NOAA Fisheries is gathering early input from the public, fishing industry, and other stakeholder groups regarding potential measures to reduce bycatch of sea turtles in trawl fisheries, with a particular focus on the Atlantic croaker, longfin squid, and summer flounder fisheries.

Phase 2 of Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Modifications

NOAA Fisheries is requesting input on efforts to reduce the risk of entanglement to right, humpback, and fin whales in U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot, and Mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries. Scoping meetings will be held September 9 - October 14. Written comments may be submitted through October 21.

Paperwork Reduction Act Request for Comments: Sea turtles in Virginia pound nets data collection

NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register on June 10, 2021 (86 FR 30918) requesting comments on a renewal for collection of information requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection of information involves the requirement for Virginia pound net fishermen to report interactions with endangered and threatened sea turtles, found both live and dead, in their pound net operations to NMFS and if necessary, the appropriate rehabilitation and stranding network. The comment period closes August 9, 2021. For additional information please contact Carrie Upite at (978) 282-8475 or email at Carrie.Upite@noaa.gov.

Click here to read the full notice in the federal register.

NOAA Fisheries Proposes Modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

NOAA Fisheries has proposed modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to further reduce the impacts of entanglement in fishing gear on right whales in U.S. waters. The proposed modifications focus on the Northeast jonah crab and lobster trap/pot fisheries, which deploy about 93 percent of the buoy lines fished in areas where right whales occur. In 2021, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team will be asked to recommend risk reduction measures for other Atlantic trap/pot and gillnet fisheries.

Comments on the proposed modifications and on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement may be submitted through March 1, 2021. NOAA Fisheries will also hold a series of virtual public hearings to explain the proposed modifications and to accept public comments on the modifications. Learn more at the links below.

How to Comment

  1. Attend a public hearing. 

  2. Submit your comments in writing through our online comment portal. To comment, go to: regulations.gov. Search for NOAA-NMFS-2020-0031. Choose “Comment Now” to submit your comments.

Listening Session: Proposed Rule to Revise Listing Status of Humpback Whales

Members of the public are invited to attend the Council’s next listening session at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 to learn about – and provide comments on – a proposed rule to revise the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of humpback whales. 

NOAA Fisheries: Successful Conservation Efforts Recognized in Proposed ESA Humpback Whale Listing Revision

NOAA Fisheries has announced a proposal to reclassify the humpback whale into 14 distinct population segments and to remove ten of those populations from the endangered species list. The proposed changes are expected to provide a more tailored conservation approach for U.S. fisheries managers.

NOAA Fisheries Announces $2.5 Million Available for Innovative Bycatch Solutions

NOAA Fisheries is now accepting project proposals its Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP). Approximately $2.5 million is available to fishermen, academics, and other interested groups for projects that offer practical solutions to reduce bycatch. Pre-proposals are due by April 16 with full applications due by May 28, 2015.

NC Sea Grant, NMFS Seek Marine Mammal Bycatch Reduction Research Proposals

The National Marine Fisheries Service, in partnership with North Carolina Sea Grant, is providing competitive funding for research in support of the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan.The deadline for submitting proposals is 4 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014.

NOAA Fisheries: Final ESA Section 7 Consultation Biological Opinion Now Available

NOAA Fisheries announces that the Final biological opinion to assess the impact of seven Northeast fisheries on various species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as either threatened or endangered is now available.

NOAA announces regulations to protect marine mammals during Navy training and testing in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

NOAA Fisheries announced today final regulations requiring the United States Navy to implement protective measures during training and testing activities in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to reduce effects on marine mammals.

2013 Bottlenose Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event

NOAA Fisheries has declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for bottlenose dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic. Strandings of bottlenose dolphins in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia  were more than 7 times their historical average during the month of July and have remained elevated into mid-August.

NOAA Fisheries: ESA Listing for River Herring not Warranted At This Time

NOAA Fisheries announced today that listing is not warranted at this time for alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, as either threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.