Temporary Closure of the U.S. Purse Seine Fishery on the High Seas

NOAA Fisheries announces the closure of the U.S. purse seine fishery on the high seas in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area). The purse seine fishery between the latitudes of 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South in the Convention Area will be closing as a result of reaching the 2018 limit on fishing effort in that area. This action is necessary for the United States to comply with provisions of a conservation and management measure adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean  and is important for the conservation and management of bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean.