Pacific Ocean Fisheries and Agreements
About
In the Pacific Islands region, NOAA Fisheries and other government agencies share responsibility for negotiating and implementing international fisheries agreements encompassing the western and central Pacific Ocean.
Targeted and bycatch species migrate across the high seas and the exclusive economic zones in various countries. These countries, including the United States, cooperatively manage international Pacific Ocean fisheries, particularly highly migratory species such as tuna and billfish, through several multilateral fisheries agreements.
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NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to shorten existing fish aggregating device closure periods. This rule applies to U.S. purse seine vessels fishing for highly migratory species in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Published
05/29/2024
NOAA Fisheries is proposing modifications to purse seine fishing restrictions and the 2022 longline bigeye tuna catch limit in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Area.
Published
09/12/2022
NOAA Fisheries is intending to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to meet requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act for the continued authorization of the U.S. purse seine fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean under
Published
08/23/2018
Overlap Between the Convention Areas of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
NOAA Fisheries publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to seek public input about management of U.S
Published
05/10/2018
Changes to Pacific Bigeye Tuna Longline Catch Limit
NOAA Fisheries is issuing an interim final rule to change bigeye tuna catch limits for U.S. longline vessels in the Pacific.
Comments Close
09/05/2024
Fishing Effort Limits for U.S. Purse Seine Vessels in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
This interim final rule establishes limits on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20° N. and 20° S. in the area of application of the Convention on the
Effective
07/31/2019
Temporary Closure of the U.S. Purse Seine Fishery on the High Seas
NOAA Fisheries announces the closure of the U.S. purse seine fishery on the high seas in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area
Effective
09/18/2018
Implementing Recent Decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
NOAA Fisheries publishes a final rule to implement recent decisions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. These regulations implement catch limits for the U.S. longline fleet operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), fi
Effective
08/30/2018
Fishing Restrictions for Tropical Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean for 2018 to 2020
NOAA Fisheries is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act to implement Resolution C-17-02 (Conservation Measures for Tropical Tunas in the Eastern Pacific Ocean During 2018-2020 and Amendment to Resolution C-17-01), which was adopted at the 92n
Published
04/11/2018
Fishing Effort and Catch Limits and Other Restrictions and Requirements for Highly Migratory Species
A final rule to establish a framework to specify limits on fishing effort and catches, other fisheries restrictions and requirements.
Published
10/01/2015