Fishing Restrictions in Purse Seine Fisheries and 2022 Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit

The proposed action is a rule to modify existing limits on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20° N. and 20° S., in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). In addition, the proposed action would adjust the 2022 bigeye tuna catch limit in the area of application of the Convention (Convention Area) for U.S. longline commercial fishing vessels to 3,358 metric tons, due to an overage of the 2021 catch limit. The proposed action would clarify that adjustments to the purse seine fishing effort limits or longline bigeye tuna catch limits could occur each year, due to any overage of the prior year’s limit. The proposed action also would modify the following: the process for closing the fishery once NMFS expects the effort limits will be reached; the requirement to submit daily purse seine fishing effort reports; and the process for adjusting established annual catch and effort limits in the Convention Area.