How are gear restrictions used to manage PFMC fisheries?

• A. Gear restrictions focus on restricting gear types to protect habitat, with no effect on bycatch.
• B. Gear restrictions involve setting minimum catch sizes.
• C. Gear restrictions limit speeds and engine size.
• D. Gear restrictions limit gear types, mesh sizes, or configurations to reduce bycatch and protect habitat.

Answer: (D)

Gear restrictions control what fishing gear can be used and how it’s deployed. By limiting gear types, mesh sizes, or the way gear is configured, managers can steer what is caught toward target species while reducing bycatch and minimizing habitat damage. For example, mesh size rules prevent catching undersized fish, and requiring certain gear configurations can lessen seabed disturbance or non-target catches. This approach fits PFMC fisheries management because it uses gear design to influence outcomes directly, supporting sustainable harvest and habitat protection. The other tools describe different management levers—size limits set minimum catchable sizes, and vessel-related limits like speed or engine size affect fishing generally but aren’t gear restrictions themselves.