Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Prohibiting Longline Fishing Within 30 nm of the Northern Mariana Islands

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This final rule prohibits pelagic longline fishing within approximately 30 nautical miles (nm) of the islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). By establishing a longline fishing prohibited area around the CNMI, NMFS intends to reduce the potential for nearshore localized fish depletion from longline fishing, and to limit catch competition and gear conflicts between the CNMI- based longline and trolling fleets. This rule also makes several administrative clarifications to the pelagic fishing regulations.