Pacific Island Fisheries; Amendment 7 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago and Final Rule; Discontinue Rebuilding Plan for American Samoa Bottomfish and Implement Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Fishing Years 2024-2026
catch-limit · western pacific · Published 2024-11-07 · Effective 2024-12-09 · 89 FR 88170
Document
Document number
2024-25829
Federal Register citation
89 FR 88170
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
catch-limit
Region
western pacific
Publication date
2024-11-07
Effective date
2024-12-09
NOAA docket
Docket No. 241101-0287
Abstract
This final rule amends the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago (FEP) to discontinue the rebuilding plan for American Samoa bottomfish and implements single-species annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for bottomfish in the American Samoa archipelago for fishing years 2024, 2025 and 2026. The action is necessary because new best scientific information indicates the fishery is not overfished or experiencing overfishing, and new ACLs and AMs are warranted. This final rule supports the long-term sustainability of the fishery.