NOAA Fisheries Service said it will prohibit Hawaii-based longline fishing vessels from catching bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean from Dec. 29 to 31.

International agreements and federal regulations limit the annual U.S. longline catch of bigeye tuna to 3,763 metric tons. NOAA Fisheries Service monitored fishermen’s bigeye tuna catches and determined that the 2009 catch limit for bigeye tuna is expected to be reached by Dec. 29.

Once the closure takes effect, longliners at sea in the western and central Pacific must stop fishing for bigeye tuna.

Although fishing is prohibited for bigeye tuna, other fish may still be caught and landed by longliners during the closure, including yellowfin tuna, ono, kajiki, opah, mahimahi, nairagi, monchong and others.

During the closure period, Hawaii longliners may still fish for bigeye tuna in the eastern Pacific, which is generally in waters east of the Island of Hawaii.

The 2010 fishing year is scheduled to open on Jan. 1. The 2010 bigeye tuna catch limit will be 3,763 metric tons.