Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Hawaii-based Pelagic Longline Area Closure

NMFS issues an emergency rule to prohibit vessels registered for use under a Hawaii longline limited access permit from fishing with longline gear within the area north of 28 deg. N. lat. and between 168 deg. W. long. and 150 deg. W. long. NMFS is also prohibiting vessels registered for use with receiving vessel permits from receiving Pacific pelagic management unit species harvested with longline gear while those receiving vessels are in the closed area. No vessel may land or transship, shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ, pelagic fish harvested by longline gear in the closed area. The closure is an interim measure in response to the Order Setting Terms of Injunction issued by the U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii, dated November 23, 1999. The intended effect is to implement the court-ordered closure and reduce adverse impacts to sea turtles by curtailing activities of the Hawaiian longline fishery while an environmental impact statement (EIS) is being prepared.