NOAA 98-R139

Contact:  Scott Smullen                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                        August 3, 1998

FISHERIES SERVICE WILL CLOSE SWORDFISH DRIFTNET FISHERY AUGUST 14

National Marine Fisheries Service managers expect North Atlantic swordfish driftnet fishermen to catch about 7,650 pounds of fish a day during the highly competitive fishing season that started August 1. To keep fishermen within the driftnet quota of 91,711 pounds (41.6 metric tons), the fisheries service plans to close the fishery on August 14 at 11:30 p.m.

The commercial North Atlantic swordfish driftnet fishery consists of 10 vessels from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Florida, that fish primarily on the south side of Georges Bank. This fishery is considered a derby fishery, in that the quota is usually taken in a very short period of time. The 1996 driftnet fishery quota of 103,616 pounds (47 metric tons) was taken in 10 fishing days. There was no driftnet fishery in 1997 because of rules protecting endangered northern right whales.

In past years it has been difficult to predict catch rates in this fishery. Daily landings have ranged from 3,900 pounds to more than 30,000 pounds. Since the driftnet quota is part of the internationally-set United States north Atlantic swordfish quota share of 5.3 million pounds, any overage in the driftnet quota must be absorbed by the quota category known as the incidental fishery. Fishermen in this category target other species of fish, but catch swordfish incidentally.

The August 14 closure will apply to U.S.-flagged vessels fishing commercially for North Atlantic swordfish throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, north of 5 degrees 0 minutes north latitude. Driftnets are prohibited in the South Atlantic swordfish fishery, south of 5 degrees 0 minutes north latitude.

The fisheries service has notified individual driftnet fishermen and known fishery representatives about the closure. In addition, the closure notice will be announced on the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, NOAA Weather Radio Bulletin, and on the fisheries service's Highly Migratory Species information line.