View Rule

This temporary rule would establish an interim catch limit (ICL) for bottomfish in American Samoa. NMFS will evaluate available catch information, and as an accountability measure (AM), would close the bottomfish fishery in Federal waters when we project that the fishery will attain the ICL. The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council requested the interim measures to reduce overfishing in the American Samoa bottomfish fishery while the Council develops a long-term plan to end overfishing in that fishery. The measure would be effective for up to 180 days in 2020. The temporary rule supports the long-term sustainability of American Samoa bottomfish.