Pelagic drift longlines are one of the most indiscriminant fishing gear types resulting in high levels of bycatch of protected species and non-targeted fish such as marlin, bluefin tunas and juvenile swordfish. For this reason, numerous closed areas specific to pelagic drift longlines were implemented to curb their excessive bycatch. In time, these closed areas were instrumental in the successful recovery of North Atlantic swordfish in addition to creating outstanding sailfish and marlin fishing off the south Atlantic Coast. But in light of this conservation victory, NOAA is now considering issuing exempted fishing permits for upwards of 13 longline boats to fish these areas and completely reverse all that has been gained.

The driving force behind NOAA’s consideration of opening up the closed areas is the domestic longline fleet who have failed to meet their annual swordfish quota as part of the ICCAT treaty. In our domestic fisheries management system, not exceeding annual harvest quotas, particularly during periods of high biomass, is viewed in a positive light. However, in the international arena of ICCAT, consistent failure to meet the US swordfish quota has caught the attention of other contracting nations; namely Mexico, Canada, and Taiwan who are already engaged in political maneuvers to seize our unharvested swordfish. In an effort to increase our domestic swordfish landings and retain our quota, NOAA, in recent months, has increased recreational bag limits, incidental trip limits, and lifted numerous upgrade provisions on pelagic drift longline vessels. In addition, buoy gear was recently authorized as a gear type permitted to land swordfish. The effects of this new gear has not been analyzed, nor has the effects of these exemptions been evaluated.

RFA is strongly opposed to NOAA issuing exempted fishing permits for pelagic longline vessels to fish in closed areas. Ironically, the areas that the longliners are trying to get back into, the Charleston Bump and the East Florida Coast, are closures that were put in place because they protected swordfish nursery areas and stopped the high level of juvenile swordfish bycatch observed to be occurring in those areas.

Currently, RFA is working on a permanent solution to prevent situations like this from happening in the future. We will be pushing for the United States ICCAT Delegation to offer a recommendation at the fall meeting that would allow countries that are in compliance and don’t meet their annual harvest quotas to retain the balance of their quota as a ‘swimming conservation reserve’. Consistent with the ICCAT Charter, the reserve would have to be carried over for a time certain. During that time the individual ICCAT member country must make a good faith effort, through adjustments to its commercial and recreational fisheries, to achieve their quota on a regular basis. Such a recommendation would give the US an opportunity to utilize any unused swordfish quota and make adjustments in response to the needs of fishermen. Furthermore, we would have more control over the benefits that result from our conservation efforts. RFA will be working with ICCAT members towards this goal in the coming months.