Biological Opinion on Continued Operation of the American Samoa Longline Fishery on Endangered Species Act Listed Species
October 30, 2015
NOAA Fisheries' biological opinion on the continuing operation of the American Samoa longline fishery, as managed under the existing regulatory framework.
NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD) initiated formal consultation on May 8, 2015 with the Protected Resources Division (PRD) on the continuing operation of the American Samoa longline fishery, as managed under the existing regulatory framework. The proposed action considers future management changes recommended by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), but not yet implemented by NOAA Fisheries, including an exemption to certain portions of the Large Vessel Prohibited Areas (LVPA), modifications to the limited access program, and retention limits for swordfish. This document represents the NOAA Fisheries biological and conference opinion (Opinion) on the effects of the continued operation of the American Samoa longline fishery, under the existing regulatory framework and with the management changes recommended by the Council, and its effects on threatened and endangered species, their designated critical habitat, and species proposed for listing as threatened or endangered.