Sea Turtle Interactions in the Hawaiʻi Shallow-set Longline Fishery
A summary of current and historical fishery interactions with leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles.
2020 Interactions
This table is updated when an interaction is reported; if no interaction is reported, the table is updated on the 15th and last day of each month.
This table was updated on November 5, 2020.
| Leatherback Turtle | |
|---|---|
| Annual Limit | 16* |
| Interactions to Date | 2 |
On September 17, 2020, NOAA Fisheries revised the leatherback limit from 26 to 16, and removed the loggerhead limit (85 FR 57988).
Background
Regulations governing the Hawaiʻi shallow-set pelagic longline fishery include annual limits on the number of interactions that occur between fishing vessels and sea turtles. The annual fleet-wide interaction limit (hard cap) is 16 leatherback sea turtles (there is no fleet limit for loggerhead sea turtles). For each fishing trip, the interaction limits are 2 leatherback and 5 North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles.
Sea turtle interactions are monitored by NOAA Fisheries observers, placed aboard every shallow-set longline fishing trip.
See the September 2020 Compliance Guide and 50 CFR 665.813 for more information. The Observer Program's quarterly reports provide more information about protected species interactions with U.S. longline vessels in the Pacific.
Historical Interactions
| Leatherback Turtle | Loggerhead Turtle | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 17 | March 19, 2019. Fishery closed because it reached the annual interaction limit of 17 loggerhead turtles. |
| 2018 | 6 | 33 | May 4, 2018. Fishery closed by Court Order. |
| 2017 | 4 | 21 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 15 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 13 | |
| 2014 | 16 | 15 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 6 |
November 5, 2012. NOAA Fisheries revised the limits for leatherback turtles from 16 to 26, and for loggerhead turtles from 17 to 34. Two loggerhead interactions were with the same turtle. |
| 2011 | 16 | 12 | November 18, 2011. Fishery closed because it reached the annual interaction limit of 16 leatherback turtles. |
| 2010 | 8 | 7 | 2010 loggerhead limit was 46. |
| 2009 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 15 | |
| 2006 | 1 | 17 | March 20, 2006. Fishery closed because it reached the annual interaction limit of 17 loggerhead turtles. |
| 2005 | 8 | 12 | |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 |