1. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Proposed Rule Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting August 15, 2013

2. ALWTRP Revisions Purpose and Need Serious injury and mortality of large whales (including highly endangered right whales) remains too high Proposed changes would strengthen current measures designed to protect large whales under MMPA Large whales continue to be entangled in vertical lines (pot/trap and gill net gear)

3. ALWTRP DEIS contains six alternatives DEIS contains six alternatives Primary purpose is to reduce the number of vertical lines in the ocean Primary purpose is to reduce the number of vertical lines in the ocean Improve gear marking Improve gear marking

4. Northeast Measures Increase in number of pots/traps per trawl (vertical line reduction) Increase in number of pots/traps per trawl (vertical line reduction) Seasonal closures for pot/trap fisheries in areas surrounding Cape Cod Bay, Jordan Basin, and Jeffrey’s Ledge Seasonal closures for pot/trap fisheries in areas surrounding Cape Cod Bay, Jordan Basin, and Jeffrey’s Ledge Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries

5. Mid-Atlantic Measures Continue monitoring and increase outreach to improve compliance with ALWTRP Continue monitoring and increase outreach to improve compliance with ALWTRP Request that state partners provide annual gear characterization reports (effort monitoring) Request that state partners provide annual gear characterization reports (effort monitoring) Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries

6. Southeast Measures Set maximum breaking strength of weak links (600 #) and buoy lines (2200 #) Set maximum breaking strength of weak links (600 #) and buoy lines (2200 #) Establish new pot/trap management area based on current GN areas Establish new pot/trap management area based on current GN areas One buoy line/trap (no multiple trap trawls) One buoy line/trap (no multiple trap trawls) Gear must be returned to shore at termination of trip (Fed waters) Gear must be returned to shore at termination of trip (Fed waters)

7. Southeast Measures cont. Gear must be returned to shore at termination of trip (Fed waters) Gear must be returned to shore at termination of trip (Fed waters) Require sinking buoy lines (except where line attaches to buoy) and must be free of objects Require sinking buoy lines (except where line attaches to buoy) and must be free of objects Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries Increase size and frequency of current gear marking scheme for pot/trap and gill net fisheries

8. Public Comment Deadlines DEIS - by September 13, 2013 DEIS - by September 13, 2013 Proposed Rule – September 16, 2013 Proposed Rule – September 16, 2013 Comments received verbally at public hearings Comments received verbally at public hearings FAX – 978-281-9394 FAX – 978-281-9394 Mail Mail

9. Public Comment Comments received verbally at public hearings (16) Comments received verbally at public hearings (16) FAX – 978-281-9394 FAX – 978-281-9394 Mail : Mary Colligan, NMFS (55 Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 09130) Mail : Mary Colligan, NMFS (55 Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 09130) Email: NMFS.NER.whale@noaa.gov Email: NMFS.NER.whale@noaa.gov

10. Remaining Public Hearings Gloucester, MAAugust 19 th, 6-9 pmNOAA Regional Office 55 Great Republic Dr Portsmouth, NHAugust 20 th, 5-8 pmUrban Forestry Center 27 Elwyn Road Wilmington, NCAugust 26 th, 5:30- 7:30 pmNew Hanover Public Main Library 201 Chestnut St Virginia Beach, VAAugust 27 th, 6-9 pmMeyera E. Oberndorf Central Library 4100 VA Beach Blvd Manahawkin, NJAugust 28 th, 6-9 pmStafford Township Hall 260 E. Bay Ave. Ormond Beach, FLSeptember 9 th, 4:30-6:30 pmOrmond Beach Public Library 30 S Beach St. Jacksonville, FLSeptember 10 th, 5-7 pmPort Authority 2831 Talleyrand Avenue Brunswick, GASeptember 11 th, 5-7 pmGeorgia Dept. of Natural Resources 1 Conservation Way Charleston, SCSeptember 12 th, 5-7 pmSCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute 217 Ft. Johnson Rd