Fishing Permit Allows Accidental Kills of Endangered Sea Mammals
Published Date: 3/14/2025
Notice
Summary
The government wants to give a special permit to certain fishing operations off California and the Pacific Ocean. This permit lets them accidentally catch some endangered marine mammals while fishing for sharks and swordfish, but they must follow strict rules to protect these animals. The proposal affects commercial fishers and aims to balance fishing with saving marine life, with decisions and possible fees coming soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Permit Allows Accidental Takes in Specific Gillnet Fishery
NMFS is proposing a permit that would allow the incidental (not intentional) take of certain Endangered Species Act-listed marine mammal species or stocks in the California thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>=14 inch mesh) and the corresponding Pacific high seas drift gillnet fishery. The permit would authorize takes under the Marine Mammal Protection Act but requires fishers to follow strict protective rules to limit harm to these animals.
Possible Upcoming Decisions and Fees for Fishers
The proposal notes that decisions and possible fees related to the permit process for these fishing operations may be issued soon. If fees are adopted, they would apply to commercial fishers in the named drift gillnet fisheries.
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Key Dates
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