Fisheries Off West Coast States; Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Swordfish Retention Limits

Résumé

NMFS proposes regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to modify retention limits for swordfish, Xiphias gladius, harvested in the U.S. West Coast-based deep-set tuna longline (DSLL) fishery. The DSLL fishery is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP). The proposed rule would implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) recommendation to modify HMS FMP regulations governing the possession and landing limits of swordfish captured in the DSLL fishery, contingent on hook type and fisheries observer presence. If a vessel without an observer onboard uses any J[hyphen]hooks (tuna hooks), the trip limit would be 10 swordfish. If a vessel without an observer onboard uses only circle hooks, the trip limit would be 25 swordfish. If the vessel carries a NMFS-approved observer during the entire fishing trip, there would be no limit on swordfish retained. Regulations prohibiting the use of shallow[hyphen]set longline gear to target swordfish would remain in place.