Modifications to the Limited Entry Permit Program for the American Samoa Pelagic Longline Fishery (0648-BH65)

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)propose Amendment 11 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region to modify thelimited entry permit program for the American Samoa Pelagic Longline Fishery. In 2002, the Council recommended avessel size-based limited entry program with criteria for participation in the American Samoa longline fishery to managecapacity in the then-rapidly developing fishery. In 2005, the NMFS implemented the program and issued 60 limited accesspermits to qualified candidates among four vessel size classes. The small vessel fleet steadily contracted due to multipleexternal sources, including the economic costs incurred to go fishing, reduced albacore tuna catch rates, and lower pricesat landing. The modifications intend to reduce programmatic barriers that may be hampering small vessel (less than 50feet) participation in the fishery by consolidating permit vessel size-classes, removing fishing history requirements, andreducing the minimum harvest requirements for small vessels in the fishery.