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Published: 2013

Total Pages: 134

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This EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the commercial swordfish management measures in Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. Amendment 8 would establish new and modified commercial fishing vessel permits that would allow participants to catch swordfish on rod and reel, handline, harpoon, green-stick, and bandit gear and sell them commercially. In recent years, the North Atlantic swordfish stock has experienced significant growth due largely to ongoing domestic and international conservation measures designed to reduce mortality, protect juvenile swordfish, monitor international trade, reduce bycatch, and improve data collection. The most recent stock assessment, conducted in 2009, indicates that the North Atlantic swordfish population is fully rebuilt and that overfishing is no longer occurring. The resulting increased availability of swordfish has increased the economic viability of selective fishing gears that have minimal bycatch and result in few discards, such as rod and reel, handline, bandit gear, green-stick, and harpoon. The purpose of this action is to provide additional opportunities for United States fishermen to harvest swordfish using selective gears that are low in bycatch, given their rebuilt status and increased availability.

Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the commercial swordfish management measures in Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. Amendment 8 would establish new and modified commercial fishing vessel permits that would allow participants to catch swordfish on rod and reel, handline, harpoon, green-stick, and bandit gear and sell them commercially. In recent years, the North Atlantic swordfish stock has experienced significant growth due largely to ongoing domestic and international conservation measures designed to reduce mortality, protect juvenile swordfish, monitor international trade, reduce bycatch, and improve data collection. The most recent stock assessment, conducted in 2009, indicates that the North Atlantic swordfish population is fully rebuilt and that overfishing is no longer occurring. The resulting increased availability of swordfish has increased the economic viability of selective fishing gears that have minimal bycatch and result in few discards, such as rod and reel, handline, bandit gear, green-stick, and harpoon. The purpose of this action is to provide additional opportunities for United States fishermen to harvest swordfish using selective gears that are low in bycatch, given their rebuilt status and increased availability.