NMFS Looks to Revive Longline EFP to Target Swordfish on the West Coast
Swordfish landings on the West Coast have dropped dramatically since 1985 -- and it's unlikely fishermen will ever achieve optimum yield under current gear restrictions. NMFS hopes to change that by drafting a new Environmental Impact Statement for longlines targeting highly migratory species.
A history of litigation and both state and federal regulations have led to the decline and eventual phase out of a number of gear types aimed at catching swordfish off of Oregon and California. The primary concern was sea turtle bycatch: endangered species of loggerhead...
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