The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published final rules amending NMFS’ regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. This rule revises the management measures for reducing the incidental mortality and serious injury to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in commercial trap/pot and gillnet fisheries. NMFS has published these rules pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act .
NMFS also intends the measures in the Plan to benefit minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), which are not classified as strategic stocks under the MMPA, but are known to be taken incidentally in commercial fisheries.
Click here to read the Reduction Plan.