U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Oyster Dredge Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category |
III |
Estimated Number of Participants |
7,000 |
Target Species |
Eastern oyster |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
None |
Observer Coverage |
N/A |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
None Documented |
Basis for Current Classification
There are no documented marine mammal interactions.
Distribution
Fall to spring
Gear Description
Steel frame with twine or steel bag attached used to harvest oysters.
Management
Throughout its range, the eastern oyster is not a federally managed fishery. The fishery requires permits, often involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the lead review agency, with various other federal agencies (typically NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) providing resource protection recommendations. This fishery is also managed by the Gulf of Mexico Oyster Fishery FMP.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (1989) |
Original Number of Participants |
7,000 |
Basis for Original Classification |
There are no documented marine mammal interactions. |
Past Names |
"Mid-Atlantic oyster" (until 1994) |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
1994 |
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