modifications to the harbor porpoise take reduction plan - Northeast ...

B. MID-ATLANTIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES (Figure 2-9)
B. 1. Establish the Mudhole South Management Area (Figure 2-9) and rename the existing
Mudhole Management Area as the Mudhole North Management Area.
Since the implementation of the HPTRP in 1999, harbor porpoise takes in the Mid-Atlantic have
occurred primarily in the Waters off New Jersey Management Area, particularly in the existing
Mudhole Management Area and the waters south and east of this area. Alternatives considered
by the HPTRT to reduce these takes included: 1) expanding the existing Mudhole Management
Area, 2) shifting the existing Mudhole Management Area south, 3) requiring pingers in the
Waters off New Jersey Management Area, 4) shifting the existing Mudhole Management Area
east, or 5) creating a second separate area south and east of the existing Mudhole Management
Area. The final option, development of a new area south and east of the existing Mudhole
Management Area, achieved full consensus of the HPTRT at the December 2007 meeting. The
HPTRT agreed to establish a complete closure of this area to commercial gillnet fisheries from
February 1 to March 15. The preferred alternative proposed in this EA applies the Mudhole
North Management Area large and small mesh gear restrictions from January 1 through April 30
(except when closures apply) to the proposed Mudhole South Management Area. These gear
restrictions include no more than 13 nets per string and a floatline length of no longer than 3,900
ft (1,189 m) for large mesh nets, and no more than 10 nets per string with a floatline length no
longer than 3,000 ft (914 m) for small mesh nets. The twine size, tie-down, net size, and net
number per vessel requirements for large and small mesh gillnet gear in these areas would be
maintained (see Section 2.2.1).
B. 2. Modify tie-down requirement for large mesh gillnets in both the Waters off New Jersey
and Southern Mid-Atlantic Management Areas from no more than 15 ft (4.6 m) to no more than
24 ft (7.3 m).
This management measure achieved full consensus of the HPTRT during the December 2007
meeting. A tie-down uses twine between the floatline and the lead line to create a pocket or bag
within the gillnet to keep monkfish alive longer, which is necessary due to the long set times of
monkfish gillnets. When finalized through the 1998 HPTRP regulations, tie-downs were
required not more than every 15 ft (4.6 m) along the floatline of large mesh gillnets. Current
practice favors use of tie-downs every 24 ft (7.3 m). Because this change is not likely to
significantly affect the way gillnets fish or their profile in the water column, it is unlikely to
increase harbor porpoise takes. Therefore, the HPTRT agreed to support this modification to the
regulations.
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