This table is updated when an interaction is reported, or on the 15th and 30th of each month if no interactions are reported.
Background
Regulations governing the pelagic fisheries of the western Pacific region establish maximum annual limits on the numbers of interactions that occur between fishing vessels engaged in shallow-set (i.e., swordfish-directed) longlining and sea turtles. There are two calendar-year annual limits, one for leatherbacks, set at 16, and one for loggerheads, set at 17. Currently, these limits apply only to vessels registered for use with Hawaii longline limited access permits engaged in shallow-set fishing.
Once either of the limits has been determined to have been reached, the shallow-set component of the Hawaii-based longline fishery will be immediately closed. Once the shallow-set fishery is closed, vessels registered under a Hawaii longline limited access permit are prohibited from shallow-set longlining north of the equator for the remainder of the calendar year.
Sea turtle interactions are monitored by NOAA Fisheries observers. Currently, there is 100% observer coverage aboard Hawaii-based shallow-set longline vessels.
Please refer to 50 CFR 665.33 for the official regulations establishing Hawaii shallow-set longline sea turtle interaction limits. More information can be found in the Observer Program's quarterly reports which detail protected species interactions with U.S. longline vessels in the Central and Western Pacific.
Numbers of Leatherback and Loggerhead Interactions
Calendar Years 2004 - 2007
These numbers are current as of January 2, 2008
Leatherback
Loggerhead
Annual limit
16
17
Interactions in 2007
5
15
Interactions in 2006
1
*17
Interactions in 2005
8
12
Interactions in 2004
1
1
*NOTE: The Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery reached the 2006
annual interaction limit of 17 loggerheads. As a result, the
fishery was closed on March 20, 2006.
