Results of the First U.S. National Bycatch Report

The Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and international agreements identify the stewardship role of the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) in leading the nation's collaborative efforts to monitor and reduce bycatch of living marine resources in U.S. fisheries. As part of its efforts to meet these responsibilities, NOAA Fisheries will publish a National Bycatch Report in spring 2011. The report is the first ever national summary of bycatch estimates in federal commercial fisheries for: (1) bycatch of protected species (e.g., ESA-listed sea turtles, marine mammals, sea birds, and fish) and (2) at-sea discards of fish.

The new National Bycatch Report contains currently available bycatch estimates for U.S. commercial fisheries. Bycatch estimates included in the report were based on information collected by observers as well as reports submitted by fishers and fish processing companies (e.g., logbooks, trip tickets). Data quality and bycatch estimation methodologies for all federal fisheries and fisheries with federal data collection were also evaluated through a tier classification system. Over 400 species-level and 70 fisheries-level estimates are included in the report. A national bycatch ratio was also calculated based on catch and bycatch data contained in the report; this value is compared to the results of previous studies. The report provides recommendations for enhancing the quality of bycatch data and bycatch estimates in the nation’s fisheries. It will serve as a strategic document and provide a basis for determining future monitoring and management goals as well as for prioritizing funding decisions.  This presentation will discuss the National Bycatch report project, with a focus on the development of regional and national bycatch estimates.