Regulation
Pacific Island Fisheries; Exemption for Large U.S. Longline Vessels To Fish in Portions of the American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area; Court Order
NMFS implements a regulatory exemption that allows certain U.S. longline vessels 50 ft (15.2 m) and larger (“large longline vessels”) to fish in portions of the American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA). The intent is to comply with a U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision and Order that reversed a district court ruling that had vacated and set aside the exemption.