Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Regulatory Adjustment 2 to the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks Fishery Management Plan. Final Rule to Reduce Sea Turtle Bycatch and Bycatch Mortality in Highly Migratory Species Fisheries

摘要

The purpose of this action is to avoid jeopardy by implementing most of the reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) and the other measures required by the June 14, 2001, Biological Opinion (BiOp) on the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Plan and its Associated Fisheries to reduce the incidental take and mortality of sea turtles and other protected species in the fisheries for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish. These measures affect U.S. fishermen who hold Federal permits for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks and use pelagic and bottom longline and shark gillnet gear in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. The final action closes the Northeast Distant Statistical Reporting (NED) Area to pelagic longline fishing to reduce the bycatch of sea turtles.