News + Announcements
FR Notice – Pelagic Longline Gear and Operational Requirements (April 28, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: In this final rule, NMFS prohibits the use of wire leaders in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery, and requires the...
Request for Comments – NOAA Fisheries Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans (2022-2024) (April 22, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of the NOAA Fisheries Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans (2022-2024); request for comments. SUMMARY: We, NMFS,...
FR Notice – Identification of Nations or Entities Engaged in Illegal, Unreported, or Unregulated Fishing, Bycatch of Protected Living Marine Resources, or Shark Fishing on the High Seas (April 14, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for information. SUMMARY: NMFS is seeking information regarding nations or entities whose vessels are engaged in illegal,...
FR Notice – 2022–2025 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Main Hawaiian Islands Uku (Gray Jobfish) (Mar. 28, 2022)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Final rule. SUMMARY:In this final rule, NMFS implements an annual catch limit (ACL) of 295,419 lb (134 metric tons (t)), an annual catch target...
FR Notice – Fishing Restrictions for Tropical Tuna and Silky Shark in the Eastern Pacific Ocean for 2022 and Beyond (Mar. 28, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) of 1950, as amended, to implement...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Asks for Remedies to Long-Standing Issues in Western Pacific Region (24 March 2022)
HONOLULU (24 March 2022) At the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting today, Chair Archie Soliai reiterated concerns about NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) delays in completing Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations for the...
Press Release – Western Pacific Council Supports Protection of False Killer Whales, Leads US Fisheries Interests in Pacific (23 March 2022)
HONOLULU (23 March 2022) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council discussed today its position on the future direction for the False Killer Whale (FKW) Take Reduction Plan and agreed to not support adoption of weaker hooks under the Plan due to the...
FR Notice – Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Pacific Islands Logbook Family of Forms (Mar. 23, 2022)
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We...
Press Release – Federal Fishery Managers to Develop Fishing Regulations for Proposed Hawai‘i National Marine Sanctuary (22 March 2022)
HONOLULU (22 March 2022) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council said at its meeting today it will develop fishing regulations as part of the proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) sanctuary designation. The NOAA sanctuary designation process...
FR notice: Experimental Fishing Permit (Mar. 18, 2022)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Notice; issuance of permit. SUMMARY:NMFS is issuing an experimental fishing permit (EFP) to the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) to evaluate the...