The Pacific Islands Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service is accepting applications for 22 American Samoa longline limited entry fishing permits until May 28, 2009. Thirteen Class A (up to 40 feet in overall vessel length), four Class B (40+ to 50 feet), four Class C (50+ to 70 feet), and one Class D (70+ feet) permits are available.

Permit eligibility will be priority ranked according to earliest documented participation in the American Samoa longline fishery in Class A, B, C, and D size vessels, respectively. A complete application consists of a signed application form, payment of a non-refundable application processing fee of $32, copy of vessel registration or documentation (if registering a vessel), and copy of earliest documented participation in the American Samoa longline fishery. Qualifications for the permits are contained in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, section 665.36 (see paragraph g for specific requirements). The notice of permit availability was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2009 (Vol. 74, pg. 4942).

Complete applications must be received at the following address by May 28, 2009.

NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
ATTN: Permits
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700