Comment Sought on Pelagic Longline Experimental Fishing off Florida and South Carolina

NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on the Environmental Assessment analyzing the impacts of conducting research with pelagic longline vessels in portions of the East Florida Coast and Charleston Bump closed areas. Given the nearly rebuilt status of north Atlantic swordfish and recent bycatch reduction measures implemented throughout the U.S. pelagic longline fishery, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to collect baseline data in the closed areas to evaluate the effectiveness of existing bycatch reduction measures. NOAA Fisheries invites comments from interested parties on the Environmental Assessment. Comments must be received by November 20, 2007.

Contact: Russell Dunn (727)824-5399.