Pacific Islands Annual Catch Limits
This page was updated on 12/10/2018.
Annual catch limits (ACLs) are tools to prevent overfishing in commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries administers limits for the following Pacific Island fisheries:
Pelagic
| Fishery | Species | 2018 Limit (Metric Tons) |
Estimated Catch (Metric Tons) |
% of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western and Central Pacific Longline | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 3,554 | 3, 497 | 98% | Open |
| CNMI Longline | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | Open |
| QMI-CNMI Specified Fishing Agreement | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 1,000 | 890 | 89% | Open |
| Guam Longline | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 2,000 | 0 | 0 | Open |
| American Samoa Longline | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | Open |
| QMI-AS Specified Fishing Agreement | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | Open |
| Eastern Pacific Longline | Pacific Bigeye Tuna | 750 (for vessels > 24 m) | 452 | 60% | Open |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for most pelagic species because they are subject to international fishing agreements or have life cycles of less than a year.
Hawaii
| Fishery | Species | 2018-2019 Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish (Lehi, Ehu, Onaga, Opakapaka, Kalekale, Gindae, Hapuʻupuʻu) | TBA | 27,608 | TBA | Open |
| Fishery | Species | 2017 Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Non-Deep 7 Bottomfish | TBD | - | - | Open |
| Crustacean | Deepwater Shrimp | 250,773 | - | - | Open |
| Kona Crab | 3,500 | - | - | Open | |
| Spiny Lobster | 15,000 | - | - | Open | |
| Slipper Lobster | 280 | - | - | Open | |
| Precious Coral | Black Coral - Auau Channel |
5,512 | - | - | Open |
| Pink Coral - Makapuu Bed |
2,205 | - | - | Open | |
| Pink Coral - Brooks Bank |
979 | - | - | Open | |
| Pink Coral - 180 Fathom Bank |
489 | - | - | Open | |
| Pink Coral - Kaena Point Bed |
148 | - | - | Open | |
| Pink Coral - Keahole Bed |
148 | - | - | Open | |
| Bamboo Coral - Makapuu Bed |
551 | - | - | Open | |
| Bamboo Coral - Brooks Bank |
245 | - | - | Open | |
| Bamboo Coral - 180 Fathom Bank |
123 | - | - | Open | |
| Bamboo Coral - Kaena Point |
37 | - | - | Open | |
| Bamboo Coral - Keahole Bed |
37 | - | - | Open | |
| Precious Corals in the Hawaii Exploratory Area | 2,205 | - | - | Open | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Selar crumenophthalmus (akule, bigeye scad) |
TBD | - | - | Open |
| Decapterus macarellus (opelu, mackerel scad) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Acanthuridae (surgeonfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lutjanidae (snappers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Scaridae (parrotfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Labridae (wrasses) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mullidae (goatfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carangidae (jacks) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Holocentridae (squirrelfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Serranidae (groupers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Kyphosidae (rudderfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lethrinidae (emperors) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mollusks (octopus) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Crustaceans (crab) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mugilidae (mullets) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carcharhinidae (reef sharks) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| All other coral reef ecosystem species combined | TBD | - | - | Open |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for stocks subject to federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions. These include all species of gold coral, all species of deepwater precious coral at Wespac Bed in the NWHI, and the three Hawai'i seamount groundfish: pelagic armorhead, alfonsin and raft fish. The current prohibition on fishing for these species serves as a functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
American Samoa
| Fishery | Species | 2017 Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 106,000 | - | - | Open |
| Crustacean | Deepwater Shrimp | 80,000 | - | - | Open |
| Spiny Lobster | 4,845 | - | - | Open | |
| Kona Crab | 3,200 | - | - | Open | |
| Slipper Lobster | 30 | - | - | Open | |
| Precious Coral | Precious Corals in the American Samoa Exploratory Area | 2,205 | - | - | Open |
| Black Coral | 790 | - | - | Open | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Scaridae (parrotfish) | TBD | - | - | Open |
| Acanthuridae (surgeonfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lutjanidae (snappers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Selar crumenophthalmus (akule, bigeye scad) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Serranidae (groupers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carangidae (jacks) | TBD | - | Open | ||
| Lethrinidae (emperors) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mollusks (turbo snail, octopus, giant clams) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Labridae (wrasses) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Holocentridae (squirrelfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mullidae (goatfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mugilidae (mullets) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Crustaceans (crabs) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Kyphosidae (rudderfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Cheilinus undulatus (Humphead "Napoleon" wrasse) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carcharhinidae (reef sharks) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum (bumphead parrotfish) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Siganidae (rabbitfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| All other coral reef ecosystem species combined | TBD | - | - | Open |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for stocks subject to federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions, including gold corals. The current prohibition on fishing serves as a functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
Guam
| Fishery | Species | 2017 Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 66,000 | - | - | Open |
| Crustacean | Deepwater Shrimp | 48,488 | - | - | Open |
| Spiny Lobster | 3,135 | - | - | Open | |
| Kona Crab | 1,900 | - | - | Open | |
| Slipper Lobster | 20 | - | - | Open | |
| Precious Coral | Precious Corals in the Guam Exploratory Area | 2,205 | - | - | Open |
| Black Coral | 700 | - | - | Open | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Acanthuridae (surgeonfish) | TBD | - | - | Open |
| Scaridae (parrotfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lethrinidae (emperors) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Selar crumenophthalmus (atulai, bigeye scad) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Labridae (wrasses) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mollusks (octopus) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Serranidae (groupers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carangidae (jacks) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Siganidae (rabbitfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lutjanidae (snappers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mugilidae (mullets) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mullidae (goatfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Holocentridae (squirrelfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Kyphosidae (chubs / rudderfish) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Crustaceans (crabs) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Cheilinus undulatus (Humphead "Napoleon" wrasse) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carcharhinidae (reef sharks) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum (bumphead parrotfish) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| All other coral reef ecosystem species combined | TBD | - | - | Open |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for stocks subject to federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions, including gold corals. The current prohibition on fishing serves as a functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
Mariana Archipelago - CNMI
| Fishery | Species | 2017 Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomfish | Bottomfish multi-species stock complex | 228,000 | - | - | Open |
| Crustacean | Deepwater Shrimp | 275,570 | - | - | Open |
| Spiny Lobster | 7,410 | - | - | Open | |
| Kona Crab | 6,300 | - | - | Open | |
| Slipper Lobster | 60 | - | - | Open | |
| Precious Coral | Precious Corals in the CNMI Exploratory Area | 2,205 | - | - | Open |
| Black Coral | 2,100 | - | - | Open | |
| Coral Reef Ecosystem | Acanthuridae (surgeonfish) | TBD | - | - | Open |
| Lutjanidae (snappers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Scaridae (parrotfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Serranidae (groupers) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Selar crumenophthalmus (atulai, bigeye scad) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Holocentridae (squirrelfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Labridae (wrasses) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Lethrinidae (emperors) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carangidae (jacks) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mullidae (goatfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Kyphosidae (rudderfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Siganidae (rabbitfish) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Mollusks (turbo snail, octopus, giant clams) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| TBD | - | - | Open | ||
| Mugilidae (mullets) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Carcharhinidae (reef sharks) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Crustaceans (crabs) | TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Cheilinus undulatus (Humphead "Napoleon" wrasse) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| Bolbometopon muricatum (bumphead parrotfish) |
TBD | - | - | Open | |
| All other coral reef ecosystem species combined | TBD | - | - | Open |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for stocks subject to federal fishing moratoria or prohibition, including gold corals. The current prohibition on fishing serves as a functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
Pacific Remote Island Areas
| Fishery | Species | Annual Limit (lb) | Estimated Catch (lb) | % of Limit Caught | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No catch limits at this time. | - | - | - | - | - |
Note: NOAA Fisheries has not specified ACLs for any bottomfish crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem species in the Pacific Remote Island Areas because commercial fishing is prohibited out to 50 nautical miles by Presidential Proclamation 8336 which established the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument (74 FR 1565, January 12, 2009).
