Proposed Changes to Purse Seine FAD Closure Periods in Western and Central Pacific
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to reduce fish aggregating device, or FAD, closure periods for U.S. purse seine fishing vessels in the Pacific. This rule is necessary to implement recent decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, known as the WCPFC.
In December 2023, the commission decided to reduce the FAD closure period from three months to one and half months for the exclusive economic zones and high seas in the WCPFC Convention area. The commission also decided to reduce the additional 2-month high seas FAD closure to one month.
NOAA Fisheries welcomes comments on the proposed rule through June 13, 2024.