Hawaiʻi Longline Limited Entry Permit
About
A valid Hawaiʻi longline limited entry permit is required for anyone using longline gear to fish for pelagic species within the exclusive economic zone around Hawaiʻi or anyone landing or transshipping longline catch in Hawaiʻi or within the EEZ around Hawaiʻi.
Fishery Type:
Limited Access
Harvest Type:
Commercial
Species Covered:
Highly Migratory Species
Online Renewal:
Yes – Apply Online
Logbook Requirements:
Yes
Transferable:
Yes
Expiration Date:
Annual, Expires March 3rd
Fishing Area:
Hawaiʻi EEZ
Background
- A Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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.
- The Pacific Islands Regional Office renews and transfers permits.
- Regulations governing this fishery can be found at Code of Federal Regulations,Title 50, Part 665, Subpart F.
Additional Requirements
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Carry a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act permit and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Area Endorsement on board the vessel if fishing in international waters.
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Carry a valid Marine Mammal Authorization Program certificate on board the vessel.
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Vessel operator must carry a valid Protected Species Workshop certificate on board the vessel.
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Carry a valid Hawaii longline permit registered to the vessel on board the vessel.
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Carry an operational vessel monitoring system unit supplied and installed by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.
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Notify the NOAA Fisheries Observer Program 72 hours before departure on a trip and declare whether trip type is deep-set (targeting tunas) or shallow-set (targeting swordfish), and carry a NOAA Fisheries observer if directed to do so by NOAA Fisheries.
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Maintain and submit the Western Pacific longline logbook to NOAA Fisheries within 72 hours of returning to port.
More Information
Additional Applications
What You Will Need
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 at Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 300.
Western and Central Pacific Commission Area Endorsement
A valid Western and Central Pacific Commission Area Endorsement is required for any fishing vessel of the United States used for commercial fishing for highly migratory species on the high seas in the WCPFC. Vessels must have on board a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act Permit that has a valid WCPFC Area Endorsement.
Marine Mammal Authorization Program Certificate
The Pacific Islands Regional Office automatically issues the MMAP Certificate to each vessel registered to a Hawaiʻi 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. A valid MMAP Certificate must be on-board the vessel when fishing. Permit holders do not have to apply for the MMAP Certificate but can download replacement certificates here.
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 on interaction mitigation techniques for sea turtles, seabirds, and other protected species. Visit the Protected Species Workshop page for more information.