New Permits will allow Longlining in Protected Areas
1/9/04
Because of the high level of public interest, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is re-opening the comment period on the issuance of Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) for the collection of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). The comment period is now open through January 26, 2004.
Included among the permit proposals are EFPs to allow swordfish boats to re-enter areas closed to longlining in 2000. When first aired a year ago, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC) challenged the rationale for allowing “research” in the areas closed to protect juvenile swordfish, billfish and sharks from indiscriminate longlines. We pointed out the feasibility of conducting bycatch reduction studies in the open areas, without undermining the effectiveness of the closures. And we raised concerns about the level of longline effort that might be permitted inside the closed areas and the lack of adequate observer coverage of their activities.
In addition, EFPs are being proposed to allow U.S. longliners, when fishing within the waters of other nations with less restrictive conservation measures, to be exempt from U.S. law. For instance, they would be allowed to land and sell blue marlin as long as it was legal in that country. NCMC unequivocally opposes such permits, on the grounds that highly migratory species, according to NOAA Fisheries, must be conserved throughout their range. Letting U.S. fishermen avoid conservation by moving their operations elsewhere defeats the intent of both U.S. and international conservation efforts.
Members of the public are urged to send comments, before January 26th, to: Dr. Christopher Rogers, Chief
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1)
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Comments also may be sent via fax to (301) 713-1917. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via telephone, e-mail or Internet.
New Permits will allow Longlining in Protected Areas
1/9/04
Because of the high level of public interest, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is re-opening the comment period on the issuance of Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) for the collection of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS). The comment period is now open through January 26, 2004.
Included among the permit proposals are EFPs to allow swordfish boats to re-enter areas closed to longlining in 2000. When first aired a year ago, the National Coalition for Marine Conservation (NCMC) challenged the rationale for allowing “research” in the areas closed to protect juvenile swordfish, billfish and sharks from indiscriminate longlines. We pointed out the feasibility of conducting bycatch reduction studies in the open areas, without undermining the effectiveness of the closures. And we raised concerns about the level of longline effort that might be permitted inside the closed areas and the lack of adequate observer coverage of their activities.
In addition, EFPs are being proposed to allow U.S. longliners, when fishing within the waters of other nations with less restrictive conservation measures, to be exempt from U.S. law. For instance, they would be allowed to land and sell blue marlin as long as it was legal in that country. NCMC unequivocally opposes such permits, on the grounds that highly migratory species, according to NOAA Fisheries, must be conserved throughout their range. Letting U.S. fishermen avoid conservation by moving their operations elsewhere defeats the intent of both U.S. and international conservation efforts.
Members of the public are urged to send comments, before January 26th, to: Dr. Christopher Rogers, Chief
Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SF1)
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Comments also may be sent via fax to (301) 713-1917. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via telephone, e-mail or Internet.