FEDERAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: Efforts to Reduce and Monitor Unintentional Catch and Harm Need Better Tracking.

This report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines federal efforts to reduce and monitor unintentional catch and harm in fisheries management. Bycatch, which refers to fish and other marine species that are unintentionally caught or harmed, is a complex issue that threatens the sustainability of fishing communities and ocean ecosystems. The report highlights the individualized measures used by fishers to reduce bycatch, the challenges with collecting data on bycatch, and the need for better tracking and reporting of bycatch estimates. The GAO makes several recommendations to improve the management of bycatch, including identifying resource needs for observer programs and updating the bycatch reduction implementation plan with measurable goals. [Extracted from the article]