Environmental Impact Statement: Evaluating Exempting Fishing Permits to Fish with Pelagic Longline Gear in Federal Waters off the U.S. West Coast

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (hereafter, the Council) recommended that NMFS issue an exempted fishing permit (EFP) authorizing the applicants to fish with longline gear within the U.S. West Coast exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Pelagic longline fishing gear consists of a horizontally-strung main line up to 100 kilometers (km) in length, supported at regular intervals by vertical float-lines connected to surface floats. Descending from the main line are branch-lines, each ending in a single, baited hook. When soliciting requests for EFP proposals, the Council’s objective was to test gear types or methods that could serve as an alternative to using drift gillnet (DGN) gear to catch swordfish in the EEZ, or to test different approaches to contemporary DGN fishing practices. DGN and harpoon are the only two gear types currently authorized under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP); of the two, DGN contributes the majority of the landings to the West Coast. Since 1985, U.S. West Coast swordfish catch has dramatically declined. Without other lawful, economically viable gear types, the U.S. West Coast swordfish fishery is unlikely to operate at optimum yield into the foreseeable future.

Longline gear is used to target swordfish and other highly migratory species, like tuna. However, interactions with other non-target (e.g., blue sharks) and protected species (e.g., sea turtles) can also occur. NMFS will prepare an environmental impact statement to examine potential impacts of longline fishing in federal waters off the U.S. West Coast under EFPs, as well as a suite of mitigation measures intended to address potential gear conflicts and minimize protected species interactions.