Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan

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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to amend the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP) and implementing regulations by permanently continuing medium mesh gillnet fishing restrictions in North Carolina coastal state waters, which would otherwise expire on May 26, 2012. This action will remove the expiration date to continue current nighttime fishing restrictions of medium mesh gillnets operating in North Carolina coastal state waters from November 1 through April 30. Members of the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Team (BDTRT) recommended these regulations be continued permanently, without modification, to ensure: (1) Continued conservation of strategic bottlenose dolphin stocks in North Carolina with historically high serious injury and mortality rates associated with medium mesh gillnets; and (2) BDTRP goals are met. NMFS also proposes to amend the BDTRP with updates, including updates recommended by the BDTRT for non-regulatory conservation measures.