Opportunity to comment on bycatch reporting for the Short-tailed Albatross in the Hawaiian longline fishery

Short-tailed Albatross pair, artwork by Lucimara Wesolowicz‎, Artists and Biologists Unite for Nature for ACAP

A 60-day period opened on 16 July to comment on bycatch reporting for the Vulnerable Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus in the Hawaiian longline fishery.

“This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection.  Federal regulations at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-665/subpart-F/section-665.815 require that the operator of a vessel with a Hawaii longline limited access permit notify NMFS in the event an endangered short-tailed albatross is hooked or entangled during fishing operations. Following the retrieval of the albatross from the ocean, the vessel operator must record the condition of the bird on a recovery data form. A veterinarian will use the information to provide advice to the vessel operator for caring for the bird. If the albatross is dead, the vessel operator must attach an identification tag to the carcass to assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologists in follow-up studies on the specimen. This collection is one of the terms and conditions contained in the Endangered Species Act Section 7 biological opinion issued by USFWS and is intended to maximize the probability of the long-term survival of short-tailed albatross accidentally taken by longline gear.  To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before September 16, 2024.”

Read more about the request for comment here and here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 02 August 2024