International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Changes to Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits in Longline Fisheries

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NMFS seeks comments on this interim final rule issued under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) that implements a recent decision of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission) increasing the WCPFC bigeye tuna catch limit for U.S. longline fishing vessels from 3,554 metric tons (mt) to 6,554 mt. This action is necessary to satisfy the obligations of the United States as a member of the Commission.