National Plan of Action for Reducing Seabird Bycatch in Longline Fisheries: Implementation in Atlantic Tuna, Swordfish, and Shark Longline Fisheries

The United States has voluntarily developed the U.S. National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-S) to fulfill a national responsibility to address seabird bycatch in longline fisheries, as requested in the International Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-S). The IPOA-S applies to “States” (hereafter Countries) in whose waters longline fishing is being conducted by their own or foreign vessels, and to Countries that conduct longline fishing on the high seas and in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of other Countries. The IPOA-S is a voluntary measure that calls on Countries to: (1) assess the degree of seabird bycatch in their longline fisheries; (2) develop individual national plans of action to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries that have a seabird bycatch problem; and (3) develop a course of future research and action to reduce seabird bycatch. The NPOA-S is to be implemented consistent with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and all applicable rules of international law, and in conjunction with relevant international organizations.