Sustainable Fisheries Division

Hawaii Longline Limited Entry Permit

A valid Hawaii longline limited entry permit (Hawaii longline permit) is required for anyone using longline gear to fish for pelagic species within the EEZ around Hawaii or anyone landing or transshipping longline catch in Hawaii or within the EEZ around Hawaii.

Download Application

Requirements:

Carry a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act permit on board the vessel if fishing in international waters.
Carry a valid Marine Mammal Authorization Program certificate on board the vessel.
Carry a valid Protected Species Workshop certificate on board the vessel.
Carry a valid Hawaii longline permit on board the vessel.
Carry an operational vessel monitoring system (VMS) unit supplied and installed by the NOAA Office for Law Enforcement.
Notify the NOAA Fisheries Service Observer Program 72 hours before departure on a trip and declare whether trip type is deep-set (targeting tunas) or shallow-set (targeting swordfish)
Carry a NOAA Fisheries Service observer if directed to do so by NOAA Fisheries Service.
Maintain and submit the Western Pacific longline logbook to NOAA Fisheries Service within 72 hours of returning to port.

The Hawaii longline permit may also be used to fish with longline gear and land longline catch in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas. It may be used to fish outside the EEZ around American Samoa or land fish in American Samoa caught outside the EEZ around American Samoa, but may not be used to fish within the EEZ around American Samoa.

The Hawaii longline fishery is a limited entry fishery with a maximum of 164 permits. Because it is a limited entry fishery, no new permits can be issued, but permits are renewable and freely transferable. Permits are renewed annually and expire on March 3 of each year. Renewals and transfers of permits are processed by the Pacific Islands Regional Office.

Regulations governing this fishery can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 665, Subpart F.

For more information see the Hawaii Longline Regulation Summary.

High Seas Fishing Compliance Act Permit:

This permit is required for any U.S. fishing vessel fishing outside the EEZ in international waters. Regulations for this permit requirement can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 300.

Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) Certificate:

Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) issues the MMAP certificate to each vessel registered to a Hawaii longline permit because the deep-set fishery is classified as a Category I fishery and the shallow-set fishery is a Category II fishery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Each fishing vessel in a Category I or II fishery must be registered with an MMAP, and a valid certificate must be on-board the vessel when fishing. PIRO issues the MMAP certificate to each renewing permit holder or permit holder transferee. The MMAP certificate is renewed annually. Permit holders do not have to apply for the MMAP certificate.

Protected Species Workshop Certificate:

Every year longline vessel owners and operators must attend and be certified for completion of a workshop conducted by NOAA Fisheries Service on interaction mitigation techniques for sea turtles, seabirds and other protected species. Visit the Protected Species Workshop page for more information.

Contact Information:

Permits, Certificates, MMAP Report Forms, Compliance Guides and Other Information
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700
Ph: (808) 944-2200 (ask for permits)
Fax: (808) 973-2940 (for permits)
Email: piro-permits@noaa.gov

Protected Species Workshop
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700
Ph: (808) 944-2200
Email: piropsw@noaa.gov

Vessel Departure Notification or Observer Placement
PIRO Observer Program Contractor:
Saltwater, Inc. (attn: Josee Vincent)
1023 Pensacola St., Unit G
Honolulu, HI 96814
Ph: (808) 949-1141 (vessel call-ins)
Ph: (808) 282-5318 (office cell)
Fax: (808) 593-9212
Email: josee@saltwaterinc.com

Obtain or Submit Logbooks (PIFSC)
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
ATTN: FMSD
2570 Dole St.
Honolulu, HI 96822-2396
Ph: (808) 983-5325
Fax: (808) 983-2902
Web: www.pifsc.noaa.gov

VMS, Enforcement Information, or To Report a Violation
NOAA Office for Law Enforcement
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 950
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700
Ph: (808) 203-2500 (general)
Ph: (808) 203-2503 (for VMS)
Ph: (800) 853-1964 (confidential hotline)
Fax: (808) 203-2599

Fishing in National Wildlife Refuges - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Manager
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 5-231
P.O. Box 50167
Honolulu, HI 96850
Ph: (808) 792-9550 Fax: (808) 792-9585
Web: www.fws.gov/pacificislandsrefuges

State of Hawaii Commercial Marine Licenses and Reports
Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 330
Honolulu, HI 96813
Ph: (808) 587-0103 (licenses)
Ph: (808) 587-0100 (general)
Fax: (808) 587-0115
Web: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
NOAA
6600 Kalanianaole Hwy., Suite 300
Honolulu, HI 96825
Ph: (808) 397-2657 (info.)
(866) 478-6944 (notification)
Fax: (808) 397-2662
Web: www.papahanaumokuakea.gov
Email: nwhi.notifications@noaa.gov (notification)

Fishing in the Pacific Remote Islands, Marianas Trench, and Rose Atoll Marine National Monuments
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110
Ph: (808) 944-2200
Fax: (808) 973-2941