US National Marine Fisheries Service published List of Fisheries for 2012

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of USA published its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2012, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), reports www.megafishnet.com with ference to Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The proposed LOF for 2012 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS must classify each commercial fishery on the LOF into one of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of serious injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each fishery. The classification of a fishery in the LOF determines whether participants in that fishery are subject to certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan requirements.