Regional Fishing Vessel Registry
Tuna and Billfish Fishermen

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - NMFS is establishing a register of vessels used to fish for species under the purview of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), such as tuna and billfish. At its annual meeting in June 2000 the IATTC adopted a resolution to establish a vessel registry that will include the vessels of all IATTC-member nations fishing in the Eastern Pacific. Each member nation is responsible for providing the names of its vessels. A list of vessels will provide a basis for identifying those who have an interest in these species and for achieving effective notification to fishermen of pending actions. This will help meet U.S. obligations to abide by resolutions adopted by the IATTC and approved by the Department of State. The registry will also be useful to NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in determining the universe of those who might be affected by decisions made by the Council as it addresses management problems involving U.S. highly migratory species off the Pacific Coast. Regulations implementing this registry can be found at (66 FR 49317, September 27, 2001). This is not a limited entry program.

A letter notifying the public of this action was sent to vessel owners based on recent recorded landings; however, many fishermen may not have received the letter, especially if no recent landings have been made or only small landings have been made. Below is a link to the form and to the instructions on how to include a vessel in the registry, which will establish a comprehensive list by which fishermen can be notified of future actions, pending or implemented, that might affect the harvest of highly migratory species.

Go to the form.
Go to the instructions.