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Harbor Porpols* Working Group 

 Action Plan 



Exacutlv* Summary 



The Harbor Porpoise Woridng Group (HPWG) is a coalition of organizations which includes 

 representatives firom the New England Aquarium, Woods Hole Occanographic Institution, Maine 

 GiUnetters Association, New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen's Association, Massachusetts South 

 Shore Gillnettcrs Association, Canada's Grand Manan Fishermen's Association, Conservation Law 

 Foundation, Center for Coastal Studies, University of New Hampshire Sea Grant, International 

 Wildlife Coalition, Manomct Bird Observatory, National Marine Fisheries Service, New England 

 Fishery Management Council and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Participants 

 have agreed to the following mandate which was adopted by the group in 1991. 



To define the extent of the problem and identify solutions 

 pertaining to harbor porpoise and commercial fisheries 

 interactions in the Gulf of Maine, and more specifically, to 

 reduce the incidental take of harbor porpoise in gillnets while 

 minimizing impacts on the fishery. 



The HPWG has prepared an action plan which outlines strategies for mitigation, reviews relevant 

 biological informadon on harbor porpoise/fishery interactions and recommends avenues for public 

 education. Emphasis is placed, however, on two principal areas: 



1) Mitigation: rasaarch on mHlgatlon straiagia* Is critical to tha long-tarm ttaatth of the 

 harbor porpolsa population and tha fitharlas with which they Interact. Although assess- 

 ments of the fxjpulation size and the impacts of porpoise bycatch are ongoing, no alternatives to 

 current fishing practices have been explored. We strongly recommend that work to reduce porpoise 

 kills in gillnets begin immediately since effective solutions will require field testing for several seasons. 



2) Cooperative efforts: mitigation research must Involve a conaortlum of fishermen, 

 scientists, engineers, environmentalists and resource managers. To effectively provide a 

 long-term solution, the value of diverse experience in addressing the incidental take issue is essential. 

 We strongly recommend a multidisciplinary approach to all mitigation research concerning harbor 

 porpoise/fishery interactions. 



The HPWG believes these recommendations icflea the intent of Section 1 1 1 of the Marine Mammal 

 Protection Aa which authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to undertake a program of research and 

 development for the purpose of devising improved fishing methods and gear in order to reduce the 

 incidental taking of marine mammals in commerdal fishing operations. 



Mitigation 



The HPWG has concluded that regardless of the size of the harbor porpoise population in the Gulf 

 of Maine, it is a desirable goal to reduce the take at this time. Various measures may contribute to 

 that end and include the fdlowing actions: 



• Review the worldwide li teiatore base dealing with marine mammal^hing gear interactions to 

 identify potential measures which coukl mitigate harbor porpoise take. 



• Review and summarize NMFS data collected through its sea sampling program. 



The following mitigation options should be explored fully to determine the most effective means of 

 reducing harbor porpoise/fishery interactions in the Gu^ of Maine: 



• Determine seasonal and geographic patterns of harbor porpoise interactions with sink gillnets to 

 develop mitigation strategies. 



