NMFS Issues Final Rule for Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan in Gulf of Maine and Mid-Atlantic Waters

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has implemented a harbor porpoise take reduction plan in the Gulf of Maine and Mid-Atlantic waters, requiring fishermen to use pingers in closed areas and receive training, in an effort to reduce porpoise bycatch and comply with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)