November 10, 2007Florida Sportsman Magazine
Feds propose “research” with pelagic longline vessels in protected areas of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean.
Since 2001, specific offshore waters paralleling East Central Florida, around the North Atlantic Bight and up to the Charleston Hump, have been off- limits to longliners who targeted pelagic and Highly Migratory Species. The reasons for closure ranged from bycatch mortality of turtle and shark populations, to an entire swordfishery fished close to collapse. Since then, the federal government says longline vessels put into place new tactics to deter bycatch mortality. Swordfish populations have begun to recover—evident by increasing recreational catches, especially in southern Florida.
Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service invites the public to comment on an “Environmental Assessment” to conduct research with a limited number of pelagic longline vessels in two areas of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean (East Central Florida and the Charleston Hump).
“In less than a decade, we have nearly rebuilt swordfish and dramatically reduced bycatch of sea turtles and other species by requiring that pelagic longline fishermen use new fishing techniques,” said William T. Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service. “Now it is time for us to examine whether these techniques can be used in the closed areas with the same success.”
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