Amendment 2 to the fishery ecosystem plan for the Hawaiian archipelago : management measures for the Hancock Seamounts to address the overfished condition of armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri), including an environmental assessment Amendment two to the fishery ecosystem plan for the Hawaiian archipelago Management measures for the Hancock Seamounts to address the overfished condition of armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri), including an environmental assessment

"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to define the portion of the EEZ in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands west of 180 degrees West longitude and north of 28 degrees North latitude as the Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management Area (EMA), i.e., a marine protected area. Within the Hancock Seamounts EMA, a moratorium would be established that prohibits fishing for pelagic armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri) and other seamount groundfish and bottomfish, until NMFS determines that the armorhead stock is rebuilt and no longer overfished. The purpose of this action is to rebuild the armorhead stock, which is overfished as a result of over-exploitation by foreign vessels in international waters. This action would also specify a rebuilding time for armorhead as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for stocks that are overfished"--Cover letter.