Photos: NMFS PIRO Observer Program

Final Take Reduction Plan (TRP) Regulatory Measures in the Final TRP (77 FR 71260, November 29, 2012) • Gear modifications to increase chance of

hook straightening to allow release of animals without hook or trailing line

• Expansion of permanent longline prohibited area around the main Hawaiian Islands

• New closure area (Southern Exclusion Zone) triggered after 2 M&SI per year in EEZ

Non-Regulatory Measures in the Final TRP • Measures to improve data quality, efficiency

and dissemination • 35 prioritized research recommendations

Challenges to Leveling the Playing Field: A Case Study of Mitigating False Killer Whale Interactions in the

Hawaii-based Tuna Longline Fishery under the Take Reduction Plan Process Asuka Ishizaki, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu, Hawaii; asuka.ishizaki@noaa.gov

Acknowledgements The author thanks Svein Fougner, Ryan Steen, Charles Daxboeck, and Paul Dalzell for their constructive feedback, and PIRO Observer Program for providing photographs.

References 1. Bartram, P. N. Nakamura, J.J. Kaneko and G. Krasnick. 2008. 2008 Responsible Fisheries Assessment of Hawaii’s Pelagic Longline Fisheries. Report prepared for Hawaii

Seafood Project 2, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. 2. Gilman, E., Brothers, N., McPherson, G. and P. Dalzell. 2006. A review of cetacean interactions with longline gear. Journal of Cetacean Research Management 8(2): 215–223.

Take Reduction Planning Basics Plan developed with interdisciplinary team representing various stakeholders Timeframe: Develop draft plan within 6 months of convening team Short-term goal: Reduce M&SI below PBR within 6 months of TRP implementation Long-term goal: Reduce M&SI to insignificant levels approaching zero within 5 years

False Killer Whale Interactions: Main Issues 1) Depredation of Bait and Catch: Issue for fishermen & industry • Depredation by toothed whales including false killer whales known to be a global wide-spread problem2 • Hawaii tuna longline fishery had ~6% of sets with marine mammal damage since 2003

2) Mortality and Serious Injuries (M&SI): Issue under the MMPA • Small number of observed hookings and entanglements resulting in M&SI recorded annually in the Hawaii

longline fishery (typically < 5 interactions) • Most hookings and entanglements associated with depredation events • Under the MMPA, M&SI of false killer whales in the Hawaii longline fishery exceeded potential biological

removal (PBR) since 2000, triggering the Take Reduction Plan requirement

Summary

U.S. environmental laws may unnecessarily constrain domestic fisheries and pose challenges to leveling the playing field in the international arena. This case study illustrates how requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) resulted in management measures that further burdens a fishery that is otherwise considered a high international standard in the Pacific.

Hawaii-based Tuna Longline Fishery: An International Standard

The Hawaii longline fishery is one of the most highly regulated tuna longline fisheries in the Pacific, achieving 94% compliance with FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing1: • Managed under the Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem

Plan developed by the Western Pacific FMC • First to implement many conservation measures

including seabird and sea turtle bycatch mitigation • Limited entry fishery with a maximum of 164 vessels • Maximum vessel size of 101 feet in length • Minimum 20% observer coverage • Subject to international management and conservation

measures under Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)

Lessons Learned Consideration of TRP timeline and goals is needed when technical solutions are not immediately available. TRP process should allow for development of long-term solutions that also benefit and provide incentives to U.S. fishermen, rather than strictly focusing on reducing M&SI.

Issues with the Outcome: Fishery Management Perspective TRP measures placed the Hawaii longline fishery further at an unlevel playing field due to:

1. Closures in the EEZ: Elimination of winter tuna fishing grounds and take-triggered closure reducing 17% of available fishing grounds within US EEZ

2. No solutions developed to alleviate economic impacts resulting from depredation events

3. Hawaii longline fishery now operating with additional regulatory measures while other fleets operating in the same high seas are not subject to new regulations

Process issues with the MMPA TRP contributing to the above outcomes:

1. Short timeline for developing a plan: Team only given 6 months to develop draft plan

2. Lofty implementation goals: Short-term goal of reducing M&SI below PBR within six months is unrealistic unless effective technical solutions are available

MMPA Take Reduction Planning Process Initiated in 2010

Hooks set by the Hawaii-based

longline fishery in 2012. The fleet

fishes both inside and

outside the U.S. EEZ around

Hawaii. Foreign fishing effort

overlaps with the Hawaii longline

effort outside of the EEZ. The

Hawaii longline fishery accounts

for 1.5% of the total Pacific

bigeye catch. (Map source: NMFS PIFSC)

Were the Main Issues Addressed?

Main Issues

Team Deliberations

Final TRP Regulatory Measures

Non-Regulatory Measures

1) Depredation (issue for fishermen) YES NO

Research recommendation

only

2) M&SI (issue for MMPA) YES YES YES

The longline fishery accounts for ~90% of Hawaii’s

commercial fish production and ~80% of total U.S. bigeye

tuna landings.

Conservation and management measures by the Hawaii longline fishery are considered the gold standard in the Pacific

Gear modification include “weak” circle hooks with wire diameter <4.5mm