USA EEZ (0-200 NM) - American Samoa

To claim sovereign rights and exclusive fishery management authority over all fish, and all Continental Shelf fishery resources. Under the international convention on the Law of the Sea, every nation's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extends from the shoreline to the 200 nautical mile line. However, under U.S. law, each coastal state has concurrent jurisdiction over waters extending to the 3 nautical mile line.

Species of Concern: Multiple

Restrictions

It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:
1. Use a vessel in the EEZ around American Samoa without a valid American Samoa longline limited access permit registered for use with that vessel, to fish for western Pacific pelagic MUS using longline gear, in violation of § 665.801(c)(1);
2. Use a vessel shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ around American Samoa without a valid American Samoa longline limited access permit registered for use with that vessel, to land western Pacific pelagic MUS that were caught with longline gear within the EEZ around American Samoa, in violation of § 665.801(c)(2);
3. Use a vessel within the EEZ around American Samoa without a valid American Samoa longline limited access permit registered for use with that vessel, to transship western Pacific pelagic MUS that were caught with longline gear, in violation of § 665.801(c)(3). 50 CFR 665.802(e),(f),(g).
4. Fish for, take, or retain deepwater shrimp without a permit issued under 50 CFR 665.142. 50 CFR 665.143
5. Fish for, take, or retain any species of American Samoa precious coral ECS outside of any precious coral permit area, or in any precious coral permit area without a permit and in accordance with size and limit restrictions. 50 CFR 665.163.
6.The following gear restrictions apply: (a) Fishing for American Samoa bottomfish MUS or ECS with bottom trawls and bottom set gillnets is prohibited. 50 CFR 665.104(a)
(b) The possession of a bottom trawl or bottom set gillnet within the American Samoa fishery management area is prohibited. 50 CFR 665.104(b)
(c) The possession or use of any poisons, explosives, or intoxicating substances for the purpose of harvesting bottomfish is prohibited. 50 CFR 665.104(c).
7. It is illegal to take any marine mammal or endangered and threatened species. For a complete list, consult NOAA's website.
8. Recreational and commercial fishing limits, particularly for highly migratory species (including tunas, swordfish, sharks, and billfish), and fishing gear restrictions apply throughout this area. 50 CFR Part 665 Subpart F.
9. Speed and approach restrictions apply for certain designated marine mammals 50 CFR 224.103.

Note that these restrictions apply to all foreign flagged vessels and US vessels to the high seas up to the territorial seas of other nations. Fish and fish products from fisheries identified by the Assistant Administrator in the List of Foreign Fisheries can only be imported into the United States if the taking nation has applied for and received a comparability finding under the MMPA from NOAA, NMFS that shows that the nation's regulatory program addresses incidental and intentional mortality and serious injury of marine mammals by the exporting fisheries. MMPA, 16 U.S.C. § 1371(a)(2); 50 CFR § 216.24(h).
The Port State Measures Agreement requires member states (Australia, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, the European Union, Gabon, Guinea, Guyana, Iceland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, the United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu) to implement measures for foreign vessels at their ports to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Each member state has their own measures. 16 U.S.C. §§ 1826d–1826k; 50 CFR Part 300.

Allowed

1. NOAA permits are required for commercial fishing or scientific collection of Highly Migratory Species, Coastal Pelagic Species, and Groundfish. 50 CFR 665.801(c)
American Samoa coral reef ECS may be taken only with the following allowable gear and methods in approved coral permit areas: (1) Hand harvest; (2) Spear; (3) Slurp gun; (4) Hand net/dip net; (5) Hoop net for Kona crab; (6) Throw net; (7) Barrier net; (8) Surround/purse net that is attended at all times; (9) Hook-and-line (includes handline (powered or not), rod-and-reel, and trolling); (10) Crab and fish traps with vessel ID number affixed; and (11) Remote-operating vehicles/submersibles. 50 CFR 665.127(a)