7. CCMs with longline vessels that fish in a shallow-set manner* shall
c. For the purpose of implementing this paragraph (7), establish and enforce their own operational definitions of shallow-set longline fisheries, large circle hooks, and any measures under 7(a)(iii) or adopted by the Commission under paragraph 12, ensuring that they are as enforceable as possible, and report these definitions to the Commission in Part 2 of their annual reports.
* footnote 1 “Shallow-set” fisheries are generally to be considered those in which the majority of hooks fish at depth shallower than 100 meters; however pursuant to paragraph 7(c) CCMs are to establish and enforce their own operational definitions.
a. Ensure that the operators of such vessels, while in the Convention Area, are required to employ or implement at least one of the following three methods to mitigate the capture of sea turtles
i. Use only large circle hooks, which are fishing hooks that are generally circular or oval in shape and originally designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank. These hooks shall have an offset not to exceed 10 degrees.
ii.Use only finfish for bait.
iii.Use any other measure, mitigation** plan or activity that has been reviewed by the Scientific Committee (SC) and the Technical and Compliance Committee (TCC) and approved by the Commission to be capable
a.of reducing the interaction rate (observed numbers per hooks fished) of turtles in shallow-set longline fisheries.
** footnote 2 A mitigation plan details the actions that will be taken to achieve specified reductions in sea turtle interactions.
12.This measure will be reviewed by the Commission in 2021 to consider expanding the scope of the measure to include mitigation measures for deep-set longline fisheries, based on advice from the SC and TCC and on information provided by CCMs pursuant to this measure.
CMM 2018-04 07c
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