Longline bycatch reduction according to most recent data by NOAA Fisheries*

NOAA Fisheries (formerly NMFS), in settling NCMC's lawsuit over swordfish, billfish and shark bycatch in the longline fisheries (NCMC vs. Secretary of Commerce), closed 133,000 square miles of coastal waters off the southeast U.S. coast in August 2000 (see closed areas, in green, in map below). The closures went into effect in March 2001.

Longlines are a type of commercial fishing gear used to target swordfish and tuna but which also take a large bycatch of undersized fish and non-target species that are discarded dead at sea. Species discarded by longline gear include blue and white marlin, sailfish, endangered sea turtles, birds, marine mammals and undersize swordfish. While progress is being made in modifying longline gear to minimize interactions with seabirds and turtles, the only known method of dealing with the bycatch of protected or prohibited fish is to get the gear out of the water, where and when it is doing the most damage.

The agency's estimates of bycatch reduction after the 2003 fishing season (combined results for 2001-2003*) as compared to the average bycatch during 1997-1999 (pre-closures) are:

The reductions in bycatch observed after three full years of the closures are substantial and the NCMC is extremely encouraged by these initial reports. If correct, they would represent a significant achievement in reducing longline bycatch through the use of discreet closures. Even so, we remain concerned that under-reporting of bycatch (estimates are based on vessel logbooks augmented by limited observer coverage) and future shifts in longline effort, including increasing effort as the swordfish population recovers from years of overfishing, may impact closure effectiveness. It's especially important, therefore, that NOAA Fisheries continue to improve its ability to monitor the longline fleet and to obtain accurate catch information. Our confidence in the benefits of the closures will increase with time, as we collect more and better data, but the initial signs are positive news for big fish in the Atlantic. The NCMC is also urging NOAA Fisheries to examine longline bycatch levels in additional areas (see areas in yellow in map above) to determine whether seasonal closures in these regions would further benefit severely overfished blue and white marlin.


*as of 2007, the 2001-2003 data is the most recent NOAA FIsheries has published.

Read more about recent attempts to open the US southeast closures.

Learn more about longline closures NCMC is promoting to protect giant bluefin tuna.