---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 11:07:13 -0400
From: Diane Borggaard <Diane.Borggaard@noaa.gov>
To: Diane Borggaard <Diane.Borggaard@noaa.gov>
Subject: DAM Zone
Dear ALWTRT Member or Interested Party:
On March 23, 2003, a sighting of 42 right whales in the proximity of 41°
41' N lat. and 69° 48' W long, east of Cape Cod, MA, resulted in the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) taking action under
the Dynamic Area Management (DAM) program to provide protection for this
aggregation of North Atlantic right whales. NOAA Fisheries announces
that lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen are requested to
remove their gear on a voluntary basis, and are encouraged not to set
additional gear, in an area totaling approximately 1,810 square nautical
miles, east and southeast of Cape Cod, MA, effective beginning at 0001
hours April 10, 2003, through 2400 hours April 25, 2003.
Because the Seasonal Area Management (SAM) West zone, Cape Cod Bay
Critical Habitat, and Great South Channel Critical Habitat overlap the
DAM zone, these areas are excluded from the DAM zone. Thus, the DAM
zone triggered on March 23, 2003, is divided into two sections: the
Northeastern DAM and the Southern DAM.
The DAM zone is bound by the following coordinates:
Northeastern DAM zone
41°14'N, 69°24'W (NW Corner)
41°48.5'N, 69°24'W
41°56.5'N, 69°04'W
41°14'N, 69°04'W
Southern DAM zone
41°33'N, 70°32'W (NW Corner)
41°24.5'N, 70°32'W and east along the coast to
41°21.5'N, 70°32'W
41°08'N, 70°32'W
41°08'N, 69°13'W
41°40'N, 69°45'W
41°45'N, 69°33'W
41°45'N, 69°56'W and returning to
41°33'N, 70°32'W along the coast
NMFS is also requesting the voluntary removal of all anchored gillnet
gear from the Sliver Area of the Great South Channel Critical Habitat
from 0001 hours April 10, 2003, through 2400 hours April 25, 2003, and
asks anchored gillnet fishermen not to set any new gear in this area
during this time period. The Sliver Area is bound by the following
coordinates:
41°02.2'N, 69°02'W
41°43.5'N, 69°36.3'W
41°40'N, 69°45'W
41°00'N, 69°05'W
A permit holder letter regarding the voluntary restrictions in the DAM
zone and Great South Channel Critical Habitat Sliver Area will soon be
posted on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) web page
(http://www.nero.nmfs.gov/whaletrp/) under "What's New". NOAA Fisheries
will be notifying the public of the voluntary DAM zone by issuing radio
announcements, working through appropriate media, distributing the
permit holder letter to affected fishermen, as well as other means. As
an ALWTRT member or interested party, NOAA Fisheries appreciates your
assistance in spreading the word about the DAM zone and its voluntary
restrictions, as well as the request for voluntary restrictions in the
Great South Channel Critical Habitat Sliver Area.
-- Diane Borggaard Large Whale Coordinator NOAA/NMFS/NERO Protected Resources Division 1 Blackburn Dr. Gloucester, MA 01930 Ph: 978-281-9328 ext. 6503 Fax: 978-281-9394 e-mail: diane.borggaard@noaa.gov
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