Western Pacific Coral Reef Ecosystem and Transshipment Requirements

The coral reef ecosystem special permit is required for anyone fishing for coral reef ecosystem management unit species in a low-use MPA, fishing for species on the list of Potentially Harvested Coral Reef Taxa, or using fishing gear not specifically allowed in the regulations.

A transshipment permit is required for any receiving vessel used to land or transship potentially harvested coral reef taxa, or any coral reef ecosystem management unit species caught in a low-use MPA.

Exceptions to this permit requirement are made for anyone issued a permit to fish under the other western Pacific fishery management plans (pelagic, bottomfish and seamount groundfish, crustacean, or precious corals) who catch coral reef management unit species incidentally while fishing for the management unit species covered by the permit they possess.

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

For more information, please contact the Pacific Islands Regional Office at (808) 944-2200 and ask for the Permits Program.

An application form for the coral reef ecosystem special permit and the transshipment permit in fillable PDF format is available.