|
SPECIAL CONSERVATION ZONE DESIGNATED
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
TO PROTECT BLUEFIN TUNA
6/16/09 On
June 12, 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released
its Final Amendment I to the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
plan, officially designating a vast area of the western Gulf a special
conservation zone to protect breeding bluefin tuna from human-induced
impacts. Western Atlantic bluefin tuna are severely depleted, and
this area is the western bluefin's only known spawning ground. The
designation is a "Habitat Area of Particular Concern"
or HAPC. HAPCs are not required to have any specific management
measures and a HAPC designation does not automatically result in
closures or other fishing restrictions. Rather, the areas are intended
to focus conservation efforts and bring heightened awareness to
the importance of the habitat.
To see the Gulf of Mexico bluefin HAPC boundaries, see this interactive
map (under species-lifestage, select bluefin tuna and then HAPC)
http://sharpfin.nmfs.noaa.gov/website/EFH_Mapper/HMS/map.aspx
NMFS received a joint request in 2007 from the National Coalition
for Marine Conservation (NCMC) and the Tag-a-Giant Foundation to
consider establishing a new HAPC for spawning bluefin tuna in the
Gulf of Mexico. The HAPC will coincide with the area identified
in a petition submitted to NMFS in June 2005 (by NCMC, Oceana, Blue
Ocean Institute, NRDC and Monterey Bay Aquarium) and based on new
electronic tagging studies by Dr. Barbara Block of Stanford University.
Amendment I and supporting documents are available on the NMFS
web site http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/EFH/index.htm.
***In January 2011, NMFS issued a proposed rule
to reduce bluefin tuna bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico. Read
more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BLUEFIN TUNA AND OTHER
BIG FISH NEED YOUR HELP
 |
|
|
click and select "Bring Back the Big
Fish"
in the program drop down menu
|
|
Learn more about our Bring
Back the Big Fish! program and why you should donate
Read more about NCMC's efforts to close
areas to longlining in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
© 1999-2012
National Coalition for Marine Conservation
4 Royal Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 USA
All Rights Reserved
|