December 30, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, we released our proposed modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to further reduce the impacts of entanglement in fishing gear on right whales in U.S. waters. The proposed modifications focus on the Northeast jonah crab and lobster trap/pot fisheries, which deploy about 93 percent of the buoy lines fished in areas where right whales occur. In 2021, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team will be asked to recommend risk reduction measures for other Atlantic trap/pot and gillnet fisheries. We also released the associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement today.
We opened a public comment period on both of these documents. Comments are due on the proposed modifications and on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement by March 1, 2021. We will also hold a series of virtual public hearings to explain the proposed modifications and to accept public comments on the modifications.
Find out more on our website:
- Message from Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
- Proposed Rule as filed in the Federal Register
- Proposed Rule Summary Fact Sheet
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement
- Information on Public Information Sessions in January and Public Hearings in February
How to Comment
1. Attend a public hearing.
2. Submit your comments in writing through our online comment portal. The comment portal will open on December 31, 2020. To comment, go to: regulations.gov. Search for NOAA-NMFS-2020-0031. Choose “Comment Now” to submit your comments.