Gear-Marking Requirements for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. In 1996, pursuant to section 118 of the MMPA, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established and convened an Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (Team) to assist in the development of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan). Throughout this process, the Team has provided NMFS with recommended measures designed to reduce serious injury and mortality to North Atlantic right (Eubalaena glacialis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales from incidental interactions with commercial fishing gear. To gather information on entanglements, the Team developed gear marking requirements. As a result, any person setting trap/pot or gillnet gear to fish commercially in some areas of the Atlantic Ocean are required to paint or otherwise mark their gear with specific color codes, designating the type of gear and area where it is set, as well as buoy marking requirements.

The latest form for Gear-Marking Requirements for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan expires 2026-11-30 and can be found here.