NOAA Fisheries

Seabird Avoidance Gear and Methods

Laysan albatross. Photo: Kim Rivera, NOAA Fisheries

• Regulations - 50 CFR 679: Alaska Fisheries
• Guide for Alaska Fishermen

Final and Proposed Rules

• Final rule eliminating seabird avoidance requirements for vessels less than or equal to 55 ft (16.8 m) length overall in the the hook–and–line groundfish and halibut fisheries in International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 4E. Effective April 27, 2009. NEW!
• 74 FR 2984, January 16, 2009. Proposed rule to eliminate seabird avoidance requirements for hook–and–line vessels less than or equal to 55 ft (16.8 m) length overall in portions of Area 4E in the eastern Bering Sea. Comment period through February 17, 2009.
• 72 FR 71601, December 18, 2007. Final rule to revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. Effective on January 17, 2008.
• 72 FR 53516, September 19, 2007. Proposed rule to revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. Comment period through October 19, 2007.
• 69 FR 1930, January 13, 2004. Final rule to revise regulations requiring seabird avoidance measures in the hook-and-line fisheries off Alaska.
• 68 FR 6386, February 7, 2003. Proposed revisions to seabird avoidance measures in the hook-and-line fisheries off Alaska
• 63 FR 11161, March 6, 1998. Final rule for management measures to reduce seabird bycatch in the hook-and-line halibut and groundfish Fisheries
• 62 FR 65635, December 15, 1997. Proposed rule for seabird avoidance devices in halibut and groundfish fisheries
• 62 FR 23176, April 29, 1997. Final rule for seabird avoidance devices in the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries
• 62 FR 10016, March 5, 1997. Proposed rule for seabird avoidance devices in the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries

USFWS Proposed and Final Rules in Alaska

• 70 FR 61988, October 27, 2005. Draft Recovery Plan for the Short-tailed Albatross (external link)
• 65 FR 46643, July 31, 2000: Final rule to list the Short-tailed Albatross as endangered
• 63 FR 58692, November 2, 1998. Proposed rule to list the Short-tailed albatross as endangered

• 66 FR 8850, February 2, 2001: Final rule for Steller's Eider Critical Habitat (4 MB)
• 66 FR 9146, February 6, 2001: Final rule for Spectacled Eider Critical Habitat
  • Eider Analyses and Fact Sheets

Notices

• 70 FR 65888, November 1, 2005. Proposed information collection for Alaska Seabird Avoidance Plan. Comment period through January 3, 2006.
• 70 FR 13174, March 18, 2005: Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to conduct an experiment to evaluate the integrated weight groundline as a potential seabird avoidance measure in the 2005 Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery in the BSAI.
• 69 FR 29701, May 25, 2004. Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit from the Washington Sea Grant Program to test integrated weight groundline
• 67 FR 19154, April 18, 2002. Notice of petition for rulemaking from Oceana regarding bycatch of birds, mammals, turtles, and fish.
• 66 FR 12764, February 28, 2001: Notice of availability of a NPOA for the reduction of incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries
• 65 FR 4945, February 2, 2000. Notice of extension of public comment period for draft NPOA-Seabirds
• 64 FR 14885, March 29, 1999. Notice of Receipt of Application: Washington Sea Grant Program for Seabird Avoidance Measures
• 64 FR 29994, June 4, 1999. Issuance of Permit 99-02: Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation to test artificial longline bait fabricated from seafood waste
• 64 FR 48987, September 9, 1999: Notice of intent to develop a National Plan of Action for the Reduction of Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-S)
• 64 FR 73017 December 29, 1999. Draft NPOA-Seabirds made available for review and public comment.

Other NMFS Seabird Regulations

• 70 FR 75075, December 19, 2005. Final rule for additional measures, including side-setting, to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery.
• 70 FR 59725, October 13, 2005. Western Pacific Fishery Management Council holds conference call to discuss seabird bycatch measures in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery.
• 70 FR 40302, July 13, 2005. Proposed rule for additional measures to reduce the incidental catch of seabirds in the Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery.
• 69 FR 18444, April 7, 2004. Final Rule for US West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
• 68 FR 68834, December 10, 2003. Proposed Rule for regulations to implement the US West Coast Fisheries for HMS FMP
• 69 FR 17329 April 2, 2004. Final Rule for Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries, Limited Swordfish Fishery, Sea Turtle and Seabird Mitigation Measures
• 69 FR 4098, January 28, 2004. Proposed Rule for Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries, Limited Swordfish Fishery, Sea Turtle and Seabird Mitigation Measures
• 69 FR 10207, March 4, 2004. Final notification of CCAMLR measures
• 68 FR 70554, December 18, 2003. Revised CCAMLR seabird avoidance measures---see Conservation Measures 25-02 and 25-03
• 61 FR 8483, March 5 1996. CCAMLR seabird avoidance measures
• 67 FR 34408, May 14, 2002. Final rule for Hawaii seabird mitigation measures.
• Hawaii Longline Fishery Seabird Mitigation

Executive Orders

• 66 FR 3853, January 17, 2001: Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds Presidential Executive Order 13186

Related Laws

• Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Public Law 94-265): Sections 2, 202, 301, and 405 are among those that address bycatch.
• The Endangered Species Act of 1973: Section 7 is relevant to fisheries bycatch issues.
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
• High Seas Fishing Compliance Act

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