Information and Public Hearings announced by NOAA for Draft Plan aimed at reducing risk of entanglement of critically endangered NA Right Whales and other large whales.

On Dec. 30^th, 2020 NOAA announced the release of proposed rulemaking (357 pages) to reduce the risk of entanglement for North Atlantic Right, finback and humpback whale entanglements in fixed fishing gear along the eastern seaboard of the USA.   The public comment period will last 60 days and close on March 1st. NOAA will be holding four informational sessions that take place on Jan 12, 13, 18 and 19 to provide information about the rule making and answer questions. NOAA protected species staff will also hold four public hearings to receive and consider public comments on the alternatives, including NOAA’s preferred alternatives, that will take place on February 16, 17, 23 and 24. Please register ahead to participate.

Some of the highlights outlined in the announcement from Chris Oliver, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, include the following proposed modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan:

• Modify gear configurations to reduce the number of vertical lines by requiring more traps between buoy lines and by introducing weak insertions or weak rope into buoy lines.
• Modify existing seasonal restricted areas to be closed to buoy lines.
• Add up to two new seasonal buoy line closures.
• Modify gear marking to introduce state-specific marking colors and increase the number of and area of marked lines.

Proposed Pot/Trap Fisheries Regulations to Help Save North Atlantic Right Whales Available for Public Comment | NOAA Fisheries

Events | Register for NOAA Fisheries January Informational Sessions

Events | Register for NOAA Fisheries February Public Comment Hearings

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