The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team will be holding a virtual meeting May 9-13 to discuss the Phase 2 modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan.
Recent modifications to the Plan addressed the risk posed by the Northeast lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fishery, which accounts for 93 percent of the buoy lines in areas where endangered North Atlantic right whales occur. Those modifications were published in September 2021, and are either already in effect (seasonal restricted areas) or become effective on May 1 (gear marking, trawling up, and weak buoy line requirements).
