# 2026-07706: Hawaii Deep 7 Bottomfish Get Strict Annual Catch Caps

2026-07706, Pacific Island Fisheries; Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish for Fishing Years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-04-21, effective 2026-05-21; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07706
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-07706
- Title: Pacific Island Fisheries; Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish for Fishing Years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 21265
- Published: 2026-04-21
- Effective: 2026-05-21
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 0648-BN20
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Hawaii Deep 7 Bottomfish Get Strict Annual Catch Caps

## Summary

Starting September 1, 2025, fishermen in the Main Hawaiian Islands must stick to a 493,000-pound limit on catching Deep 7 bottomfish each year through 2027. If they hit this limit early, the fishery will close for the rest of the year, and next year’s limit will shrink if they go over. This rule helps keep these special fish healthy and fishing sustainable for the future.

## Abstract

In this final rule, NMFS implements an annual catch limit (ACL) of 493,000 pounds (lb) (223,621 kilograms (kg)) of Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for fishing years 2025- 2026 and 2026-2027. The fishing year begins on September 1 and ends on August 31 of the following year. This rule maintains current accountability measures (AM) requiring the fishery to close for the remainder of the fishing year if the ACL is reached, and a reduction in the following year's ACL if it is exceeded. This final rule supports the long-term sustainability of the Deep 7 bottomfish fishery.

## Effects PRIA read

- 493,000‑Pound Annual Catch Cap: cost, medium. For the Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 bottomfish, the annual catch limit (ACL) is set at 493,000 pounds (223,621 kg) for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fishing years. The fishing year runs from September 1 to August 31. This ACL is implemented in federal regulation and applies beginning with the 2025-2…
- Automatic Closure and ACL Reduction: cost, medium. If the Deep 7 ACL of 493,000 pounds is reached during a fishing year, the fishery will close for the remainder of that fishing year. If the ACL is exceeded, next year’s ACL will be reduced according to the existing accountability measures (AMs) in 50 CFR 665.211.
- No Significant Small‑Entity Economic Impact: mixed, low. NMFS certified during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, so a regulatory flexibility analysis was not required. That certification was not challenged in public comment.

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## Sources
- [2026-07706 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/21/2026-07706/pacific-island-fisheries-annual-catch-limit-and-accountability-measures-main-hawaiian-islands-deep-7)
- [2026-07706 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-21/pdf/2026-07706.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-07681, Enrolled Agent Special Enrollment Examination User Fee Update](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07681)
- [Next: 2026-07708, Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Are…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07708)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07706 (as of 2026-06-11).