Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Pelagic Longline Fishery; Sea Turtle Protection; Shark Drift Gillnet Fishery

NMFS issues an interim final rule that requires the possession and use of line clippers and dipnets on board all pelagic longline vessels that have been issued Federal fisheries permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS); requires specific methods for handling, resuscitating, and releasing sea turtles; reduces the level of observer coverage in the Atlantic shark drift gillnet fishery from 100 percent year-round to 100 percent during the right whale calving season and a statistically significant level during the rest of the year; and modifies the definition of pelagic longline gear to remove the high- flyer component. The gear and sea turtle handling requirements will minimize the mortality of, or injury to, sea turtles that have been hooked or entangled by pelagic longline gear. The reduction in observer coverage requirements in the shark drift gillnet fishery reduces costs to industry while maintaining statistically valid levels of coverage. The change in the definition of pelagic longline gear is necessary for enforcement of gear prohibitions in closed areas.