Archives by Tag 'marine mammals'

False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team Reaches Unanimous Consensus on a Draft Take Reduction Plan

The False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team – a diverse group that includes the Hawai‘i longline fishing community, conservation organizations, researchers and government agencies – reached a unanimous consensus agreement on a Draft Take Reduction Plan to reduce false killer whale bycatch in the Hawai‘i-based longline fleet.
The consensus Draft Plan, formally submitted on Monday, July 19, [...]

False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team (2009-Present)

In Fall 2009, CONCUR was asked to help the NOAA/NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) prepare for and convene the pre-meeting of the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team meeting held November 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii. CONCUR’s work on this effort focused on several key tasks: (1) providing strategic planning advice to PIRO; [...]

Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Final Rule Amendment published

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a final rule to amend the regulations implementing the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (weblink). The final rule, whose measures become effective in March 2010, addresses the increased incidental mortality and serious injury of the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock of harbor porpoises in gillnet fisheries [...]

Peer-Reviewed Article on Marine Protected Areas Published in “Ocean & Coastal Management” Journal

CONCUR Principal Scott McCreary co-authored an article with Marine Life Protection Act Initiative colleagues entitled “Science-based and stakeholder-driven marine protected area network planning: A successful case study from north central California“, published in the current issue of Ocean & Coastal Management [53 (2010) 52-68]. Former CONCUR intern Kathryn Hoffman was a key co-author.
In [...]

Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) – BRTF Unanimously Adopts South Coast Region MPA Proposal

On November 12, 2009, the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) unanimously (5 – 0) adopted a preferred marine protected area (MPA) proposal for the south coast study region, which includes 27 state marine reserves (SMRs), 1 state marine park (SMP) and 16 state marine conservation areas (SMCAs); this recommended proposal is referred to as [...]

Marine Protected Areas on California’s North Central Coast

On August 5, 2009, the California Fish & Game Commission voted to place roughly 20 percent of the state’s north central coastal waters (or approximately 153 square miles) into 21 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 3 marine recreational management areas. The designated waters (map below) were identified through a CONCUR-facilitated multi-stakeholder process (DFG project home [...]

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (2008-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). CONCUR’s work focuses on (1) conducting initial stakeholder assessments, (2) convening both in-person and teleconference meetings among fishermen, conservationists, academics, researchers and various government agencies, and (3) summarizing emerging agreement. CONCUR’s work with NMFS on this effort [...]

Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (2005-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (PLTRT) for the National Marine Fisheries Service. The aim is to complete a regulatory negotiation to reduce take of protected pilot whales and Risso’s dolphin species. Team members include representatives of the longline fleet from Maine to Florida, state and regional fisheries organizations, national [...]

New York Marine Endangered Species Workshop (October 2008)

CONCUR helped design and facilitate an October 2008 workshop focused on protecting marine endangered species in New York State waters. The three-day workshop, held in Port Jefferson, NY, and sponsored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, brought together researchers, academics, local, state and federal officials, NGOs and others interested in improving [...]

Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team (2007-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This work – one of four Take Reduction Teams being facilitated for NMFS by CONCUR – strives to identify consensus-supported approaches that can reduce bycatch to sustainable levels. After an initial stakeholder assessment, CONCUR convened and [...]