NMFS Announces Draft False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan to Reduce Mortality Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released a draft plan to reduce the mortality of false killer whales incidental to commercial fishing operations in Hawaii, which are exceeding the stock's potential biological removal and are inconsistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The plan includes both regulatory and non-regulatory measures to meet the MMPA's requirements and protect the Hawaii Pelagic stock of false killer whales.