§ 922.245 Permit procedures and criteria.

(a) A person may conduct an activity otherwise prohibited by § 922.244(a)(9) through (16), if such activity is specifically allowed by and conducted in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms and conditions of a permit issued under this section and subpart D of this part, and any additional permit issuance criteria and requirements in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section. (1) Native Hawaiian Practices (i) The activity is non-commercial and will not involve the sale of any organism or material collected; (ii) The purpose and intent of this activity is appropriate and deemed necessary by traditional standards in the Native Hawaiian culture (pono), and demonstrates an understanding of, and background in, the traditional practice, and its associated values and protocols; (iii) The activity benefits the resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community; (iv) The activity supports or advances the perpetuation of traditional knowledge and ancestral connections of Native Hawaiians to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and (v) Any living sanctuary resource harvested from the sanctuary will be consumed or utilized in the sanctuary. (2) Recreation permits (i) The activity is limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. (ii) The activity is for the purpose of recreational activities as defined in § 922.241; (iii) The activity is not associated with any for-hire operation; (iv) The activity does not involve any extractive use; and (b) Applications for permits should be addressed to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; ATT: Permit Coordinator, Papahānaumokuākea, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. (c) The Secretary of Commerce may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any Special Preservation Area as a term or condition of any general permit or special use permit issued under this section and subpart D of this part. Sustenance fishing in the Midway Atoll Special Management Area shall not be allowed unless the activity has been determined by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or their designee to be compatible with the purposes for which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established. Sustenance fishing must be conducted in a manner compatible with this part, including considering the extent to which the conduct of the activity may diminish Sanctuary resources, qualities, and ecological integrity, as well as any indirect, secondary, or cumulative effects of the activity and the duration of such effects. The Secretary of Commerce may develop procedures for systematic reporting of sustenance fishing. (d) In addition to other applicable permit issuance criteria and requirements, a permit may not be issued under this section unless the applicant's vessel has been outfitted with a VMS unit approved by OLE and the applicant complies with the requirements of § 922.246.