Fishery Management Council approves changes to longline fishery rules

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council last week approved a number of changes to the Gulf of Mexico longline fishery. The fishery was closed in a large part of the Gulf earlier this year because of the number of endangered sea turtles that were being killed by longline boats. The emergency closure is only good for six months; the amended rule approved last week will become permanent. The proposed rule requires that in order for a boat to get a federal longline endorsement, the vessel must be able to prove it had reef fish landings of 40,000 pounds or more from 1999 through 2007. Those vessels that do get endorsements will be limited to 1000 hooks on board, 750 of which can be rigged and in the water. Boats taking part in reef fish bottom longline fishing will also be restricted to outside the 35-fathom contour from June through August each year. The amendments still need to be approved by the NOAA Fisheries Service but will likely become effective in early 2010.