NOAA Permits Accidental Slaughter of Endangered Whales for Swordfish Nets?
Published Date: 3/14/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA wants to give a special permit to allow some accidental catching of endangered marine mammals in California’s shark and swordfish fishing using big drift nets. This affects fishermen in this fishery and aims to balance protecting animals while supporting fishing jobs. People have until April 14, 2025, to share their thoughts before the permit is finalized.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
3-year permit to allow incidental takes
NOAA proposes a permit to authorize the incidental (not intentional) taking of certain endangered humpback whale and sperm whale stocks by vessels in the California thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 inch mesh) and the corresponding Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery for a period of 3 years.
Preliminary negligible-impact findings with numbers
NMFS preliminarily found the fishery's mortality/serious-injury (M/SI) levels are below single-fishery negligible impact thresholds: for the Central America/Southern Mexico-CA/OR/WA humpback stock estimated M/SI = 0.170 vs NITs = 0.68; for the Mainland Mexico-CA/OR/WA humpback stock estimated M/SI = 0.231 vs NITs = 1.70; and for the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock estimated M/SI = 0.00 vs NITs = 0.523.
Registration, observer coverage, and TRP requirements
Vessels in Category I and II fisheries must register under MMPA section 118 to obtain authorization (integrated with state and Federal licensing). The fishery is actively monitored by an NMFS observer program (approximately 20 percent observer coverage) and has a Take Reduction Plan in place.
Public comment opportunity deadline
You (stakeholders and the public) may submit comments on the proposed permit and supporting documents through regulations.gov (docket NOAA-NMFS-2025-0007); comments must be received by April 14, 2025.
Permit subject to re-evaluation and change
If, during the 3-year authorization, there is a significant change in the information or conditions supporting the permit, NMFS will re-evaluate and may amend or modify the authorization after notice and opportunity for public comment.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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