Since 2014, multiple whale species are being entangled in lines and nets at an elevated rate in Pacific fisheries across the western United States. These entanglements are leading to incidental mortalities and serious injuries in already distressed whale populations and, if left unchecked, may have serious negative population-level impacts. The Center for Biological Diversity and its partners are seeking the support of concerned scientists for the establishment of a marine mammal take reduction team (TRT) to address and mitigate the pressing threat of entanglements.

We ask and encourage you to lend your support and expertise to the establishment of TRT to research and implement management policy to mitigate the growing threat of entanglement and mortality on whale species in Pacific fisheries. Please click this link to a google form to find the TRT comment letter addressed to NOAA and NMFS and to indicate your support. Thank you for your concern and participation.

Scientist Letter of Support: West Coast Take Reduction Team Scope

NMFS committed to issuing a notice establishing a TRT by October 31, 2025, and to convene the first TRT meeting by November 30, 2025. The full NOAA notice can be found here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/29/2023-21333/scoping-for-a-marine-mammal-take-reduction-team-to-address-incidental-mortality-and-serious-injury If you are a scientist or expert, please fill out this form to sign onto the letter in support of the formation of a West Coast Take Reduction Team. The deadline to sign on is November 26, 2023. If you have any questions, email Kaushik Narasimhan, knarasimhan@biologicaldiversity.org, or Ben Grundy, bgrundy@biologicaldiversity.org. The letter can be reviewed below or accessed through the following link: Take Reduction Team Sign on Letter

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