LIVING MARINE RESOURCES: Fish/Fisheries Management: Off the Hook
Off the Hook: an informational video for longline fishermen in Alaska
This video—presented in three parts—was produced jointly by Washington Sea Grant and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Marine Advisory Services with funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It was duplicated and distributed (in VHS and PAL format) with funding from the Alaska Department of Fish Game to all Alaska Federal Fisheries Permit (hook-and-line endorsement) or IFQ Permit holders affected by new and forthcoming seabird bycatch regulations.
The video provides information to help Alaska longline fishermen avoid catching seabirds and protect their fisheries. It portrays a variety of seabird species, in flight and interacting with longline gear. It also demonstrates how to rig and deploy streamer lines – a seabird bycatch deterrent required on most Alaska longliners by new regulations in 2003.
More Information
For more information about seabird regulations contact:
- NMFS Enforcement
Alaska Region, Juneau
Ph: 907.586.7225
NMFS Enforcement
- Ellen W. Lance
Endangered Species Branch Chief
USFWS/AFWFO
605 W. 4th Ave. Rm G-61
Anchorage, AK 99501
Ph: 907.271.1467
Ellen_Lance@fws.gov - Kim Rivera
National Seabird Coordinator
National Marine Fisheries Service
Ph: 907.586.7424
Email: Kim.Rivera@noaa.gov
NOAA Fisheries - Seabird Information
Further information on seabird bycatch research is available:
- WSG Seabird Bycatch homepage
- Ed
Melvin
Washington Sea Grant Program
206-543-9968 - Washington Sea Grant Program: Streamer Line Schematic
Seabird Avoidance Measures - Regulatory Update
Proposed revisions to seabird avoidance measures in the hook-and-line fisheries off Alaska, 68 FR 6386, February 7, 2003, and the accompanying analysis document (DRAFT Seabird EA/RIR/IRFA, December 2002) can be found at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/actionplans.htm. A final rule is expected to be published in Fall 2003.
The proposed requirements include:
- Seabird avoidance gear must be onboard.
- Seabird avoidance gear must be made available upon request.
- Seabird avoidance gear must be used when hook-and-line gear is being deployed.
- Offal discharge requirements, including the removal of hooks before offal is discharged.
- A Seabird Avoidance Plan must be completed, onboard the vessel, and made available upon request.
- Seabird avoidance gear requirements are based on area fished, vessel length, and gear type and include: paired streamer lines of a specified performance and material standard for larger vessels in the EEZ, single streamer lines of a specified performance and material standard for larger vessels in 'Inside Waters', other measures required of smaller vessels (26-55 ft).
See the proposed rule and the forthcoming final rule for specific details of regulatory requirements. Do not rely on this list alone for regulatory compliance.
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission will continue to build and distribute streamer lines with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Free streamers can currently be picked up at the following locations. Contact Erik Hanson for alternate delivery options and more information see: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/streamers.htm.