Renewal Call: Permits for Fun Fishing in Remote Pacific Islands
Published Date: 5/4/2026
Notice
Summary
If you fish just for fun (not to sell) in the Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench, or Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monuments, you need a special permit and must report your catch. NOAA is renewing these rules and wants your thoughts by July 6, 2026. This keeps fishing safe and fair without adding extra costs or hassle.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Permit required to fish in three monuments
If you non-commercially fish (not to sell) in the Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench, or Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monuments, the vessel owner and operator must hold a valid NOAA permit and the fishing vessel must be registered to that permit. Charter vessel owners/operators who take recreational clients in these monuments also must hold a valid permit, but charter clients do not need a permit.
Mandatory catch reporting and deadlines
Vessel operators must record a complete log of catch, effort, and other data on a NOAA log sheet within 24 hours after each fishing day, and must sign, date, and submit the log to NOAA within 30 days after the end of each fishing trip. The log sheets are used to monitor fishing and assess fish stocks.
Charter businesses must be locally established
A charter business that is chartering a vessel to fish recreationally in these monuments must be legally established in the permit area where it will operate. The vessel used by the charter must be registered to the permit.
Paper forms, time burden, and estimated public cost
NOAA collects permit applications and log sheets on paper forms and estimates 25 respondents, 15 minutes per permit application, 20 minutes per log sheet, 31 total annual burden hours, and a total annual cost to the public of $1,033. Responding is mandatory under 50 CFR 665.
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