Western Pacific General Longline and Receiving Vessel Requirements
Western Pacific Longline General Permit
The western Pacific longline general permit is required for anyone:
- Using longline gear to fish for pelagic species in the EEZ around Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Pacific Remote Island Areas.
- Landing or transshipping pelagic species caught with longline gear in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Pacific Remote Island Areas.
The general longline permit may be used to land in American Samoa pelagic species caught with longline gear outside the EEZ around American Samoa. It may not be used to fish for pelagic species using longline gear in the EEZ around American Samoa or Hawaii, or to land longline caught fish in Hawaii.
Vessel owners or operators fishing with the Western Pacific longline general permit are required to:
- Maintain and submit the Western Pacific daily longline logbook to NMFS within 72 hours of returning to port.
- Carry a valid Protected Species Workshop certificate on board the vessel.
- Carry a valid general longline permit on board the vessel.
- Handle and release protected species and seabirds as directed by PIRO.
Western Pacific Receiving Vessel Permit
The receiving vessel permit is required for anyone receiving pelagic species transshipped (off-loaded) from a permitted longline fishing vessel within EEZ in the western Pacific and landing them in the region.
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.
Please click for information and an application form.
Protected Species Workshop Certificate
Longliners must attend and be certified for completion of a workshop conducted by NMFS on interaction mitigation techniques for sea turtles, seabirds and other protected species. For more information, go to the Protected Species Workshop page .
Other Information
Receiving vessel operators must maintain and submit the Western Pacific Transshipment Log to NMFS.
Regulations governing this fishery can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 665, Subpart C.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program.
Permit Application
An application form for the Western Pacific longline general permit or the receiving vessel permit is available in fillable PDF format.
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