§665.200. Hawaii bottomfish and seamount groundfish fisheries. [Reserved]
50 C.F.R. § 665.200
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
50 C.F.R. §§ 665.200–665.212
§665.201. Definitions.
50 C.F.R. § 665.201
As used in §§ 665.200 through 665.219:
Deep 7 bottomfish means the following species:
Deep 7 bottomfish fishing year means the year beginning at 0001 local time on September 1 and ending at 2400 HST on August 31 of the next calendar year.
Hawaii bottomfish ecosystem component species (Hawaii bottomfish ECS) means those species that are not listed as Hawaii bottomfish MUS and that are identified as ECS in Table 4 of the Hawaii FEP.
Hawaii bottomfish management unit species (Hawaii bottomfish MUS) means the following species:
Main Hawaiian Islands non-commercial bottomfish permit means the permit required by § 665.203(a)(2) to own or fish from a vessel that is used in any non-commercial vessel-based fishing, landing, or transshipment of any Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS in the MHI Management Subarea.
Protected species study zone means the waters within 50 nm, as designated by the Regional Administrator pursuant to § 665.208, around the following islands of the NWHI and as measured from the following coordinates:
Seamount Groundfish means the following species:
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2771, Feb. 8, 2019; 84 FR 29396, June 24, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2771, Feb. 8, 2019; 84 FR 29396, June 24, 2019]
§665.202. Management subareas.
50 C.F.R. § 665.202
The Hawaii fishery management area is divided into subareas with the following designations and boundaries:
Main Hawaiian Islands means the U.S. EEZ around the Hawaiian Archipelago lying to the east of 161°20′ W. long.
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands means the EEZ around the Hawaiian Archipelago lying to the west of 161°20′ W. long. For the purposes of regulations issued under this subpart, Midway Island is treated as part of the NWHI Subarea.
Ho'omalu Zone means that portion of the EEZ around the NWHI west of 165° W. long.
Mau Zone means that portion of the EEZ around the NWHI between 161°20′ W. long. and 165° W. long.
Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management Area means that portion of the EEZ in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands west of 180° W. long. and north of 28° N. lat.
The inner boundary of each management subarea is a line coterminous with the seaward boundaries of the State of Hawaii.
The outer boundary of each management subarea is a line drawn in such a manner that each point on it is 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 69015, Nov. 10, 2010]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 69015, Nov. 10, 2010]
§665.203. Permits.
50 C.F.R. § 665.203
Applicability—
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The owner of any vessel used to fish for, land, or transship Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS shoreward of the outer boundary of the NWHI subarea must have a permit issued under this section, and the permit must be registered for use with that vessel. PIRO will not register a single vessel for use with a Ho'omalu Zone permit and a Mau Zone permit at the same time. Mau Zone permits issued before June 14, 1999, became invalid June 14, 1999, except that a permit issued to a person who submitted a timely application under paragraph (b)(3) of this section is valid until the permit holder either receives a Mau Zone limited entry permit or until final agency action is taken on the permit holder's application. The Ho'omalu Zone and the Mau Zone limited entry systems described in this section are subject to abolition, modification, or additional effort limitation programs.
MHI non-commercial. The owner of a vessel that is used for and any person who participates in non-commercial, vessel-based fishing, landing, or transshipment of Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS in the MHI management subarea is required to obtain an MHI non-commercial bottomfish permit or a State of Hawaii Commercial Marine License. If one or more persons on a vessel-based bottomfish fishing trip holds an MHI non-commercial permit, then the entire trip is considered non-commercial, and not commercial. However, if any commercial fishing occurs during or as a result of a vessel-based fishing trip, then the fishing trip is considered commercial, and not non-commercial. Charter boat customers are not subject to the requirements of the section.
Submission.
An application for a permit required under this section must be submitted to PIRO as described in § 665.13.
Ho'omalu Zone limited access permit. In addition to an application under § 665.13(c), each applicant for a Ho'omalu Zone permit must also submit a supplementary information sheet provided by PIRO, which must be signed by the vessel owner or a designee and include the following information:
The qualification criterion that the applicant believes he or she meets for issuance of a limited access permit;
A copy of landings receipts or other documentation, with a certification from a state or Federal agency that this information is accurate, to demonstrate participation in the NWHI bottomfish fishery; and
If the application is filed by a partnership or corporation, the names of each of the individual partners or shareholders and their respective percentages of ownership of the partnership or corporation.
Mau Zone limited access permit. PIRO will not accept applications for a new Mau Zone permit after June 14, 1999. In addition to an application under § 665.13(c), each applicant for a Mau Zone permit must also submit a supplementary information sheet provided by PIRO, which must be signed by the vessel owner or a designee and include the following information:
The qualification criterion that the applicant believes he or she meets for issuance of a limited access permit;
Copy of State of Hawaii catch report(s) to demonstrate that the permitted vessel had made qualifying landings of bottomfish from the Mau Zone; and
If the application is filed by a partnership or corporation, the names of each of the individual partners or shareholders and their respective percentage of ownership of the partnership or corporation.
Sale or transfer of Ho'omalu limited access permits to new vessel owners.
A Ho'omalu zone permit may not be sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner.
A Ho'omalu zone permit or permits may be held by a partnership or corporation. If 50 percent or more of the ownership of the vessel passes to persons other than those listed in the original application, the permit will lapse and must be surrendered to the Regional Administrator.
Transfer of Ho'omalu Zone limited access permits to replacement vessels.
Upon application by the owner of a permitted vessel, the Regional Administrator will transfer that owner's permit to a replacement vessel owned by that owner, provided that the replacement vessel does not exceed 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA. The replacement vessel must be put into service no later than 12 months after the owner applies for the transfer, or the transfer shall be void.
An owner of a permitted vessel may apply to the Regional Administrator for transfer of that owner's permit to a replacement vessel greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA. The Regional Administrator may transfer the permit upon determining, after consultation with the Council and considering the objectives of the limited access program, that the replacement vessel has catching power that is comparable to the rest of the vessels holding permits for the fishery, or has catching power that does not exceed that of the original vessel, and that the transfer is not inconsistent with the objectives of the program. The Regional Administrator shall consider vessel length, range, hold capacity, gear limitations, and other appropriate factors in making determinations of catching power equivalency and comparability of the catching power of vessels in the fishery.
Ho'omalu Zone limited access permit renewal.
A qualifying landing for Ho'omalu Zone permit renewal is a landing of at least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS from the Ho'omalu Zone or a landing of at least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of fish from the Ho'omalu Zone, of which at least 50 percent by weight was Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS. A permit is eligible for renewal for the next calendar year if the vessel covered by the permit made three or more qualifying landings during the current calendar year.
The owner of a permitted vessel that did not make three or more qualifying landings of bottomfish in a year may apply to the Regional Administrator for a waiver of the landing requirement. If the Regional Administrator finds that failure to make three landings was due to circumstances beyond the owner's control, the Regional Administrator may renew the permit. A waiver may not be granted if the failure to make three landings was due to general economic conditions or market conditions, such that the vessel operations would not be profitable.
Issuance of new Ho'omalu Zone limited access permits. The Regional Administrator may issue new Ho'omalu Zone limited access permits under § 665.13 if the Regional Administrator determines, in consultation with the Council, that bottomfish stocks in the Ho'omalu Zone are able to support additional fishing effort.
Eligibility for new Ho'omalu Zone limited access permits. When the Regional Administrator has determined that new permits may be issued, they shall be issued to applicants based upon eligibility, determined as follows:
Point system.
Two points will be assigned for each year in which the applicant was owner or captain of a vessel that made three or more of any of the following types of landings in the NWHI:
Any amount of Hawaii bottomfish MUS, regardless of weight, if made on or before August 7, 1985;
At least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of Hawaii bottomfish MUS, if made after August 7, 1985; or
At least 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of any fish lawfully harvested from the NWHI, of which at least 50 percent by weight was bottomfish, if made after August 7, 1985.
One point will be assigned for each year in which the applicant was owner or captain of a vessel that landed at least 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) of bottomfish from the MHI.
For any one year, points will be assigned under either paragraph (g)(1)(i) or (g)(1)(ii) of this section, but not under both paragraphs.
Before the Regional Administrator issues a Ho'omalu zone permit to fish for bottomfish under this section, the primary operator and relief operator named on the application form must have completed a protected species workshop conducted by NMFS.
Restrictions. An applicant must own at least a 25 percent share in the vessel that the permit would cover, and only one permit will be assigned to any vessel.
Order of issuance. New permits shall be awarded to applicants in descending order, starting with the applicant with the largest number of points. If two or more persons have an equal number of points, and there are insufficient new permits for all such applicants, the new permits shall be awarded by the Regional Administrator through a lottery.
Notification. The Regional Administrator shall place a notice in the Federal Register and shall use other means to notify prospective applicants of the opportunity to file applications for new permits under this program.
Eligibility for new Mau Zone limited access permits.
PIRO will issue an initial Mau Zone permit to a vessel owner who qualifies for at least three points under the following point system:
An owner who held a Mau Zone permit on or before December 17, 1991, and whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS on or before December 17, 1991, shall be assigned 1.5 points.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1991 shall be assigned 0.5 point.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1992 shall be assigned 1.0 point.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1993 shall be assigned 1.5 points.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1994 shall be assigned 2.0 points.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1995 shall be assigned 2.5 points.
An owner whose permitted vessel made at least one qualifying landing of Hawaii bottomfish MUS during 1996 shall be assigned 3.0 points.
Before PIRO issues a Mau Zone permit to fish for bottomfish under this section, the primary operator and relief operator named on the application form must have completed a protected species workshop conducted by NMFS.
For purposes of this paragraph (h), a “qualifying landing” means any amount of Hawaii bottomfish MUS lawfully harvested from the Mau Zone and offloaded for sale. No points shall be assigned to an owner for any qualifying landings reported to the State of Hawaii more than 1 year after the landing.
More than one Mau Zone permit may be issued to an owner of two or more vessels, provided each of the owner's vessels for which a permit will be registered for use has made the required qualifying landings for the owner to be assigned at least three eligibility points.
A Mau Zone permit holder who does not own a vessel at the time initial permits are issued must register the permit for use with a vessel owned by the permit holder within 12 months from the date the permit was issued. In the interim, the permit holder may register the permit for use with a leased or chartered vessel. If within 12 months of initial permit issuance, the permit holder fails to apply to PIRO to register the permit for use with a vessel owned by the permit holder, then the permit shall expire.
For each of paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(viii) of this section, PIRO shall assign points based on the landings of one permitted vessel to only one owner if the vessel did not have multiple owners during the time frame covered by the subordinate paragraphs. If a vessel had multiple owners during a time frame covered by any of paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (h)(1)(viii) of this section (including joint owners, partners, or shareholders of a corporate owner), PIRO will assign the points for that subordinate paragraph to a single owner if only one owner submits an application with respect to the landings of that vessel during that time frame. If multiple owners submit separate applications with respect to the same landings of the same vessel during the same time frame, then PIRO shall:
Adhere to any written agreement between the applicants with respect to who among them shall be assigned the aggregate point(s) generated by landings during such time frame(s), or
If there is no agreement:
Shall issue the applicants a joint permit provided the vessel's landings during such time frames generated at least three points, or
In the event the vessel's landings during such time frame(s) generated less than three points, shall not assign any points generated by the vessel's landings during such time frame(s).
Ownership requirements and registration of Mau Zone limited access permits for use with other vessels.
A Mau Zone permit may be held by an individual, partnership, or corporation. No more than 49 percent of the underlying ownership interest in a Mau Zone permit may be sold, leased, chartered, or otherwise transferred to another person or entity. If more than 49 percent of the underlying ownership of the permit passes to persons or entities other than those listed in the original permit application supplemental information sheet, then the permit expires and must be surrendered to PIRO.
A Mau Zone permit holder may apply under § 665.13 to PIRO to register the permit for use with another vessel if that vessel is owned by the permit holder, and is no longer than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA.
If a Mau Zone permit holder sells the vessel for which the permit is registered for use, the permit holder must, within 12 months of the date of sale, apply to PIRO to register the permit for use with a vessel owned by the permit holder. If the permit holder has not applied to register a replacement vessel within 12 months, then the permit expires.
If a permitted vessel owned by the permit holder is sold or becomes unseaworthy, the Mau Zone permit with which the vessel was registered may be registered for use with a leased or chartered vessel for a period not to exceed 12 months from the date of registration of the leased or chartered vessel. If by the end of that 12-month period the permit holder fails to apply to PIRO to register the permit for use with a vessel owned by the permit holder, then the permit expires.
Mau Zone limited access permit renewal.
A Mau Zone permit will be eligible for renewal if the vessel for which the permit is registered for use made at least five separate fishing trips with landings of at least 500 lb (227 kg) of Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS per trip during the calendar year. Only one landing of bottomfish MUS or ECS per fishing trip to the Mau Zone will be counted toward the landing requirement.
If the vessel for which the permit is registered for use fails to meet the landing requirement of paragraph (j)(1) of this section, the owner may apply to the Regional Administrator for a waiver of the landing requirement. Grounds for a waiver are limited to captain incapacitation, vessel breakdowns, and the loss of the vessel at sea if the event prevented the vessel from meeting the landing requirement. Unprofitability is not sufficient for waiver of the landing requirement.
Failure of the permit holder to register a vessel for use under the permit does not exempt a permit holder from the requirements specified in this paragraph.
Appeals of permit actions.
Except as provided in subpart A of 15 CFR part 904, any applicant for a permit or a permit holder may appeal the granting, denial, or revocation of his or her permit to the Regional Administrator.
In order to be considered by the Regional Administrator, such appeal must be in writing, must state the action appealed, and the reasons therefore, and must be submitted within 30 days of the appealed action. The appellant may request an informal hearing on the appeal.
The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Council, will decide the appeal in accordance with the FEP and implementing regulations and based upon information relative to the application on file at NMFS and the Council, the summary record kept of any hearing, the hearing officer's recommended decision, if any, and any other relevant information.
If a hearing is requested, or if the Regional Administrator determines that one is appropriate, the Regional Administrator may grant an informal hearing before a hearing officer designated for that purpose. The applicant or permit holder may appear personally and/or be represented by counsel at the hearing and submit information and present arguments as determined appropriate by the hearing officer. Within 30 days of the last day of the hearing, the hearing officer shall recommend in writing a decision to the Regional Administrator.
The Regional Administrator may adopt the hearing officer's recommended decision, in whole or in part, or may reject or modify it. The Regional Administrator's decision on the application is the final administrative decision of the Department of Commerce, and is effective on the date the Administrator signs the decision.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
§665.204. Prohibitions.
50 C.F.R. § 665.204
In addition to the general prohibitions specified in § 600.725 of this chapter and § 665.15, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:
Fish for Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS using gear prohibited under § 665.206.
Fish for, or retain on board a vessel, Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS in the Ho'omalu Zone or the Mau Zone without the appropriate permit registered for use with that vessel issued under § 665.13.
Serve as primary operator or relief operator on a vessel with a Mau or Ho'omalu Zone permit without completing a protected species workshop conducted by NMFS, as required by § 665.203.
Fail to notify the USCG at least 24 hours prior to making any landing of bottomfish taken in the Ho'omalu Zone, as required by § 665.205.
Fish within any protected species study zone in the NWHI without notifying the Regional Administrator of the intent to fish in these zones, as required under § 664.205.
Falsify or fail to make or file reports of all fishing activities shoreward of the outer boundary of the MHI management subarea, in violation of § 665.14(a) or (b).
Own a vessel or fish from a vessel that is used to fish non-commercially for any Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS in the MHI management subarea without either a MHI non-commercial bottomfish permit or a State of Hawaii Commercial Marine License, in violation of § 665.2 or § 665.203(a)(2).
Fish for or possess any bottomfish MUS as defined in § 665.201, in the MHI management subarea after a closure of its respective fishery, in violation of § 665.211.
Sell or offer for sale any bottomfish MUS as defined in § 665.201, after a closure of its respective fishery, in violation of § 665.211.
Harvest, possess, or land more than a total of five fish (all species combined) identified as Deep 7 bottomfish in § 665.201 from a vessel in the MHI management subarea, while holding a MHI non-commercial bottomfish permit, or while participating as a charter boat customer, in violation of § 665.212.
Fish for or possess any Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS in the Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management Area, in violation of § 665.209.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 69015, Nov. 10, 2010; 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019; 84 FR 29397, June 24, 2019; 85 FR 26624, May 5, 2020]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 69015, Nov. 10, 2010; 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019; 84 FR 29397, June 24, 2019; 85 FR 26624, May 5, 2020]
§665.205. Notification.
50 C.F.R. § 665.205
The owner or operator of a fishing vessel subject to § 665.203(a)(1) must inform PIRO at least 72 hours (not including weekends and holidays) before leaving port, of his or her intent to fish within the protected species study zones defined in § 665.201. The notice must include the name of the vessel, name of the operator, intended departure and return date, and a telephone number at which the owner or operator may be contacted during the business day (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to indicate whether an observer will be required on the subject fishing trip.
The operator of a fishing vessel that has taken Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS in the Ho'omalu Zone must contact the USCG, by radio or otherwise, at the 14th District, Honolulu, HI; Pacific Area, San Francisco, CA; or 17th District, Juneau, AK, at least 24 hours before landing, and report the port and the approximate date and time at which the bottomfish will be landed.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, as amended at 84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
§665.206. Gear restrictions.
50 C.F.R. § 665.206
Bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets. Fishing for Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS with bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets is prohibited.
Possession of gear. Possession of a bottom trawl and bottom set gillnet by any vessel having a permit under § 665.203 or otherwise established to be fishing for Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS in the management subareas is prohibited.
Poisons and explosives. The possession or use of any poisons, explosives, or intoxicating substances for the purpose of harvesting Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS is prohibited.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
§665.207. At-sea observer coverage.
50 C.F.R. § 665.207
All fishing vessels subject to §§ 665.200 though 665.212 must carry an observer when directed to do so by the Regional Administrator.
PIRO will advise the vessel owner or operator of any observer requirement within 72 hours (not including weekends or holidays) of receipt of the notice provided pursuant to § 665.205(a). If an observer is required, the owner or operator will be informed of the terms and conditions of observer coverage, and the time and place of embarkation of the observer.
All observers must be provided with sleeping, toilet, and eating accommodations at least equal to that provided to a full crew member. A mattress or futon on the floor, or a cot, is not acceptable in place of a regular bunk. Meal and other galley privileges must be the same for the observer as for other crew members.
Female observers on a vessel with an all-male crew must be accommodated either in a single-person cabin or, if reasonable privacy can be ensured by installing a curtain or other temporary divider, in a two-person cabin shared with a licensed officer of the vessel. If the cabin assigned to a female observer does not have its own toilet and shower facilities that can be provided for the exclusive use of the observer, then a schedule for time-sharing of common facilities must be established and approved by the Regional Administrator prior to the vessel's departure from port.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
§665.208. Protected species conservation.
50 C.F.R. § 665.208
The Regional Administrator may change the size of the protected species study zones defined in § 665.201 of this subpart:
If the Regional Administrator determines that a change in the size of the study zones would not result in fishing for bottomfish in the NWHI that would adversely affect any species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA.
After consulting with the Council.
Through notification in the Federal Register published at least 30 days prior to the effective date or through actual notice to the permit holders.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
§665.209. Fishing moratorium at Hancock Seamounts.
50 C.F.R. § 665.209
Fishing for, and possession of, Hawaii bottomfish MUS or ECS, or seamount groundfish MUS in the Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management Area is prohibited until the Regional Administrator determines that the armorhead stock is rebuilt.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[84 FR 2772, Feb. 8, 2019]
§665.210. Reserved
50 C.F.R. § 665.210
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
§665.211. Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Annual Catch Targets (ACT).
50 C.F.R. § 665.211
In accordance with § 665.4, the ACLs and ACTs for MHI bottomfish fishery for each fishing year are as follows:
When a bottomfish ACL or ACT is projected to be reached based on analyses of available information, the Regional Administrator shall publish a document to that effect in the Federal Register and shall use other means to notify permit holders. The document will include an advisement that the fishery will be closed beginning at a specified date, which is not earlier than seven days after the date of filing the closure notice for public inspection at the Office of the Federal Register, until the end of the fishing year in which the ACL or ACT is reached.
On and after the date specified in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may fish for or possess any bottomfish MUS from a closed fishery in the MHI management subarea, except as otherwise allowed in this section.
On and after the date specified in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may sell or offer for sale any bottomfish MUS from a closed fishery, except as otherwise authorized by law.
If landings of MHI Deep 7 bottomfish exceed the specified ACL in a fishing year, the Regional Administrator will reduce the ACL for the subsequent year by the amount of the overage in a separate rulemaking.
If the average total landings of uku in the most recent three years exceed the specified ACL in a fishing year, the Regional Administrator will reduce the uku ACL and ACT for the subsequent year by the amount of the overage in a separate rulemaking.
Fishing for, and the resultant possession or sale of, any bottomfish MUS by vessels legally registered to Mau Zone, Ho'omalu Zone, or PRIA bottomfish fishing permits and conducted in compliance with all other laws and regulations, is exempted from this section.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[85 FR 26624, May 5, 2020, as amended at 87 FR 3047, Jan. 20, 2022; 87 FR 17196, Mar. 28, 2022; 87 FR 78876, Dec. 23, 2022; 91 FR 21266, Apr. 21, 2026]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[85 FR 26624, May 5, 2020, as amended at 87 FR 3047, Jan. 20, 2022; 87 FR 17196, Mar. 28, 2022; 87 FR 78876, Dec. 23, 2022; 91 FR 21266, Apr. 21, 2026]
§665.212. Non-commercial bag limits.
50 C.F.R. § 665.212
No more than a total of five fish (all species combined) identified as Deep 7 bottomfish may be harvested, possessed, or landed by any individual participating in a non-commercial vessel-based fishing trip in the MHI management subarea. Charter boat customers are also subject to the non-commercial bag limit.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[84 FR 29397, June 24, 2019]
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Source
Source: 75 FR 2205, Jan. 14, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[84 FR 29397, June 24, 2019]