Federal Register #2026-18849

Final Rule: Annual Catch and Retention Limits for Striped Marlin in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean

NOAA, part of the Department of Commerce, has issued a final rule establishing catch and retention limits for striped marlin in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - No OEMs or vendors are involved; this is a regulatory action, not a procurement opportunity - Products/Services Requested: - Establishment of catch and retention limits for WCNPO striped marlin (Kajikia audax) - U.S. catch limit set at 393.4 metric tons for the 2026 fishing year - Longline retention limit set at 381.6 metric tons - Unique/Notable Requirements: - If the retention limit is reached, retention by longline vessels is prohibited for the remainder of the year - Annual updates to catch and retention limits will be published in the Federal Register - Rule aligns with international conservation measures (WCPFC CMM 2024-06) - Includes requirements for reporting catch and discards - Responds to stakeholder comments but does not impose additional restrictions beyond those required by the international agreement

Description

This final rule establishes a framework for specifying catch limits for all U.S. fisheries and retention limits by U.S. longline fisheries under a Hawaii longline limited entry permit for Western and Central North Pacific Ocean (WCNPO) striped marlin. The rule is consistent with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Conservation and Management Measure 2024-06. If the retention limit is reached, retention of WCNPO striped marlin by longline vessels will be prohibited until the end of the year to prevent exceeding the U.S. catch limit. For the 2026 fishing year, the U.S. WCNPO striped marlin limit is set at 393.4 metric tons, with a longline retention limit of 381.6 metric tons.

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