HAGATNA, Guam — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has voted to close all federal waters around Guam to fishing with big nets.

The council, meeting on Guam, is also addressing overfishing of bottomfish stocks off the main Hawaiian Islands. The National Marine Fisheries Service reports the allowable Hawai'i catch of 178,000 pounds is about to be reached for the 2007-2008 season but the fishery likely will not be closed before mid-April.

The action closing Guam waters for the big nets, which are called purse seine, considered the fact the fleet using the big nets in the region is growing from a dozen vessels to a projected three dozen.

The additional vessels are being built in Taiwan and are expected to operate in waters close to Guam.