We will run a series of articles detailing the many different aspects of our fishery that makes it a model of sustainable fisheries throughout the world. The US PLL fishery is arguably the most heavily regulated PLL fishery in the world. We will start with an overview of what is required to fish in the PLL fishery. For an ever better feel read the compliance guide. HMS-Commercial-Compliance-Guide-508-Revised-03-27-2023-No-Markups-1-.pdf (noaa.gov)
What specific techniques and actions do the United States Pelagic Longline boats in cooperation with NOAA practice to reduce bycatch mortality?
- NOAA Fisheries has taken the following measures to reduce bycatch, bycatch mortality, and sustainably manage the pelagic longline fishery. Fishermen are:
- Required to use large circle hooks and certain types of bait that limit gear interactions with sea turtles. Circle hooks are specifically designed to minimize the damage caused by hooking, giving animals that are captured and released a better chance at survival.
- Trained to use special techniques to safely dehook and release any incidentally caught turtles.
- Required to stop fishing and move 1 nautical mile if they encounter a protected species.
- Required to protect pilot whales and Risso’s dolphins when fishing in the Mid-Atlantic Bight by limiting the length of their lines to 20 nautical miles and posting marine mammal handling/release guidelines on their vessels. In addition, if fishing in the Cape Hatteras Special Research Area, pelagic longliners must contact NOAA Fisheries at least 48 hours prior to a trip and carry observers if requested.
- Required to use weak hooks in the Gulf of Mexico to reduce incidental catch of bluefin tuna and prohibited from using live bait to reduce bycatch of billfish.
- Restricted from certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico to reduce bycatch of multiple species.
- Required to carry vessel monitoring systems onboard their boats to ensure compliance with these closures.
- Required to carry at-sea fisheries observers upon request. NOAA Fisheries reviews observer data to monitor protected species interactions and takes appropriate action as necessary.
- Required to install electronic monitoring (cameras) and submit camera hard drives to NOAA Fisheries to monitor bluefin tuna catch and discards.
Conversely, the colder temperatures of the Mid and North Atlantic act as natural barriers against parasite proliferation. The life cycles of many parasites are slowed or halted in these cooler waters, reducing their prevalence in the ecosystem. Additionally, the migratory behavior of Atlantic tuna and swordfish further minimizes their exposure to potential hosts, effectively lowering their risk of parasitic infestation.
Feel free to visit our website, www.kashikoexports.com, for more updates and insights into our sustainable fishing practices and the measures we take to ensure the protection of our marine environment.
