Bottomfish Requirements
NWHI Bottomfish Limited Entry Permit
This permit is required to fish for bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) in the EEZ around the NWHI, the islands, atolls, and reefs northwest of the main populated islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. This area is subdivided into two subareas, the Mau zone from 161º 20’ W. longitude to 165º W. long. and the Hoomalu zone west of 165º W. long., including Kure Atoll and Hancock Seamount, and separate permits are issued for each subareas. The permits are exclusive-- a fishing vessel registered to one of the subarea permits is not allowed to fish in the other subarea.
The NWHI bottomfish fishery is a limited entry fishery and there are a total of eight permits currently allowed, four in each subarea (NWHI Marine National Monument, Federal Register notice of final rule, 71 FR 51134, August 29, 2006). The permits are valid for a calendar year and expire at the end of the calendar year. They may be renewed yearly if the permit holder meets minimum landing requirements for the previous calendar year (Hoomalu zone: 3 or more landings of at least 2,500 lb, of which ½ must be BMUS from Hoomalu zone. Mau zone: five or more landings of least 500 lb of BMUS from the Mau zone.) Permit holders must report landings and effort on daily logbook forms and sales on sales report forms to the State of Hawaii. The annual renewals are processed by PIRO. The NWHI bottomfish fishery in both subareas will be closed on June 15, 2011.
NWHI permit holders must carry a NMFS observer if requested by NMFS and required to carry an operational VMS (vessel monitoring system) unit approved by NOAA. Vessel owners must also comply with Federal vessel identification requirements.
Before the Regional Administrator issues a Ho'omalu or Mau Zone bottomfish permit, the primary vessel operator and relief operator named on the application form must have completed a protected species workshop conducted by NMFS.
Regulations governing this fishery can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 665, Subpart E (under the Magnuson-Stevens Act), and Title 50, Part 404 (NWHI Marine National Monument).
For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program or email piro-permits@noaa.gov.
An application form for renewing the NWHI bottomfish limited entry permit is available in fillable PDF format on the permit applications page. A non-refundable application processing fee is required for Mau zone permit renewals. The amount of the fee is printed on the application form.
PRIA Bottomfish Permit
This permit is required by anyone using bottomfish gear to fish for bottomfish species in the EEZ around the PRIA (Palmyra Atoll, Kingman Reef, Jarvis Island, Baker Island, Howland Island, Johnston Atoll, Wake Island, and Midway Atoll). The permit is effective for one year after the date of issuance. Vessel operators must submit a logbook to NMFS within 30 days of landing.
Regulations governing this fishery can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 665, Subpart E.
Commercial fishing is prohibited within the boundaries of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program or email piro-permits@noaa.gov.
An application form for the PRIAs bottomfish permit is available in fillable PDF format on the permit applications page.
Guam Large Vessel Bottomfish Permit
This permit is required for any large vessel (50 feet or longer in overall length) fishing for, landing, or transshipping bottomfish management unit species in the EEZ seaward of the Territory of Guam. The permit is effective for one year after the date of issuance. Large vessels are prohibited from bottomfishing in the Guam large vessel prohibited area. Vessel operators must submit a logbook to NMFS within 72 hours after landing.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program or email piro-permits@noaa.gov.
An application form for the Guam large vessel bottomfish permit is available in fillable PDF format on the permit applications page.
Northern Mariana Islands Bottomfish Permit
This permit is required for any vessel commercially fishing for, landing, or transshipping bottomfish management unit species in the EEZ around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The permit is effective for one year after the date of issuance. CNMI bottomfish fishing vessels 40 feet or longer in overall length are required to carry and operate a NMFS owned and installed vessel monitoring system (VMS) unit. Vessel operators must submit a logbook to NMFS within 72 hours after landing. Vessel owners must mark their vessels according to CNMI or Federal regulations.
Medium vessels (40 feet or longer and less than 50 feet in overall length) and large vessels (50 feet or longer in overall length) are prohibited from bottomfishing in the CNMI medium and large vessel bottomfish prohibited areas. Commercial fishing is also prohibited within the boundaries of the Islands Unit of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.
Click here for a permit poster which summarizes the permit requirement. For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program or email piro-permits@noaa.gov.
An application form for the CNMI bottomfish permit is available in fillable PDF format on the permit applications page.
Main Hawaiian Islands Non-commercial Bottomfish Permit
This permit is required for anyone, including vessel owners, fishing for bottomfish management unit species in the EEZ around the main Hawaiian Islands. If the participant possesses a current State of Hawaii Commercial Marine License, or is a charter fishing customer, he or she is not required to have this permit. The permit is effective for one year after the date of issuance. Permitted vessel operators or owners must submit a logbook to NMFS within 72 hours after landing. Vessel owners must mark their vessels according to State of Hawaii or Federal requirements.
A small business compliance guide is available here. A brochure providing basic information about the requirements is available here.
For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program or email
piro-permits@noaa.gov. Additional information is available on the Hawaii Bottomfish Info website  .
An application form and instructions are available in fillable PDF format on the permit applications page. A non-refundable processing fee of $24 is required for this application. Vessel owners must also submit a copy of the vessel's U.S. Coast Guard documentation or State boat registration.
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