Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pelagic Fisheries; Prohibition on Fishing for Pelagic Management Unit Species; Nearshore Area Closures Around American Samoa by Vessels More Than 50 Feet in Length

NMFS issues this final rule to prohibit certain vessels from fishing for Pacific pelagic management unit species (PMUS) within nearshore areas seaward of 3 nautical miles (nm) to approximately 50 nm around the islands of American Samoa. This prohibition applies to vessels that measure more than 50 ft (15.2 m) in length overall and that did not land pelagic management unit species in American Samoa under a Federal longline general permit prior to November 13, 1997. This action is intended to prevent the potential for gear conflicts and catch competition between large fishing vessels and locally based small fishing vessels. Such conflicts and competition could lead to reduced opportunities for sustained participation by residents of American Samoa in the small-scale pelagic fishery.