Humpback Whale and Leatherback Sea Turtle Bycatch in U.S. West Coast Groundfish Fisheries, 2002-23

In accordance with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Biological Opinion Regarding the Effects of the Continued Operation of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery (NMFS 2012, 2020, 2024), this document provides a reporting of observed and estimated total takes of U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery sectors from 2002 to 2023. Throughout the text, tables, and figures in this document, the terms “entanglement,” “take,” and “bycatch” are used interchangeably and differ from ESA-defined takes as they have not been prorated by serious injury determinations.