Remove the Swordfish Trip Limit in the American Samoa Longline Fishery (RIN 0648-BH61)

This action will revise the retention limit of 10 swordfish per trip in the American Samoa deep-set longline fishery. NMFS and the Council originally established the limit as part of a suite of gear and operational requirements intended to discourage fishermen shallow-set fishing, thus reducing interactions with green sea turtles. However, the retention limit is not needed as fishery landings do not indicate that fishermen target swordfish through shallow-set fishing. This action would remove the unnecessary restriction that results in the discard of small amounts of marketable swordfish that could otherwise be supplied as seafood. The action is intended to promote efficiency in the fishery.