NMFS delays the implementation of the sinking groundline requirement until April 2009
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a
final rule to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). This
rule provides an additional six months (through April 5, 2009) for trap/pot fishermen along the
Atlantic east coast to comply with the broad-based sinking groundline requirement. Additionally, this
rule deletes the “neutrally buoyant line” term and definition from the ALWTRP
regulations, so that only the “sinking line” term and definition remain.
