Notice of Scoping for Modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

Public Comment Period Open September 9

Today we are announcing a scoping period for the next phase in the modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. We are asking for ideas and suggestions for measures for all U.S. commercial fisheries regulated by the Plan that would reach a 90% risk reduction as discussed during the November 2021 Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team meeting.

Scoping conducted in Fall 2021 for Phase 2 modifications to the Plan considered the need to reduce risk in coast-wide gillnet fisheries and mixed species Atlantic trap/pot fisheries, as well as the mid-Atlantic lobster and Jonah crab fishery. However, due to the continued decline of North Atlantic right whale population, the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event, as well as a recent court decision that held the 2021 rule invalid, modifications to the Plan including all U.S. Atlantic commercial fisheries are necessary.

Because the Northeast lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries account for approximately 93 percent of all fixed-gear buoy lines covered under the Plan, even with significant risk from those fisheries reduced by measures included in our most recent rule, additional measures from these fisheries are legally required to further reduce risk to North Atlantic right whales.

How Can I Comment?

The Notice of Intent [lnks.gd] filed in the Federal Register today. The 30-day public scoping comment period begins tomorrow and closes on October 11, 2022.

To submit written comments, go to regulations.gov [lnks.gd] and enter docket # NOAA-NMFS-2022-0091. We will also be holding a public scoping webinar on September 27, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. to accept verbal comments. Please register [lnks.gd] to attend.