News + Announcements
Request for Comments – 2022 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits (comments due by Nov. 12, 2021)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Proposed specifications; request for comments. SUMMARY:NMFS proposes a 2022 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each...
Request for Comments – Draft 2021 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (Comments due by Jan. 24, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments and new information. SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock...
Press Release – US Pacific Fishery Managers Recommend Quota for American Samoa Bottomfish (19 October 2021)
HONOLULU (19 October 2021) Today, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a 5,000-pound annual catch limit (ACL) for the American Samoa bottomfish stock complex. According to a 2019...
Press Release – Federal Fishery Managers to Choose Alternative for American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (14 October 2021)
HONOLULU (14 October 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet virtually Oct. 19, 2021, and take final action on the American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan. The agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the...
FR Notice – Modifications to the American Samoa Longline Fishery Limited Entry Program (Oct. 07, 2021)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Final rule. SUMMARY:This final rule implements Amendment 9 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP). It...
Request for Comment: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Fish Aggregating Device Design Requirements in Purse Seine Fisheries, IMO Number Requirements, and Bycatch Restrictions (comments due by Nov. 8, 2021)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS seeks comments on this proposed rule issued under authority of the Western and Central...
Request for Comments: National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions (comments due by Nov. 22, 2021)
AGENCY:Council on Environmental Quality.ACTION:Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY:The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is proposing to modify certain aspects of its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy...
Request for Comment: Establishment of Time-Area Closures for Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Comments due by Dec. 27, 2021)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comment. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, propose a regulation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to...
Press Release – US Pacific Fishery Managers Set Uku Catch Limits in Hawai‘i, Support Exploring Cultural Take of Green Sea Turtles (23 September 2021)
HONOLULU (23 September 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a 291,010-pound annual catch target for uku in the main Hawaiian Islands. This would include an in-season...
Press Release – Western Pacific Fishery Managers Recommend Improved Seabird Conservation Measures (22 September 2021)
HONOLULU (22 September 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended modifications to a regulatory amendment as an initial action to improve seabird conservation in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. A recent tori line study showed...