You are here: Home / About Us / Council Members
post

Council Members

The Council has 13 voting members and three non-voting members. A chair and four vice chairs (one from each island area) are elected annually by the Council members.

Council members must balance competing interests while trying to make decisions for the overall benefit of the nation. Council members are advised by the Council’s advisory panels and committees, Council staff, the public, states and territories, academia and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Eight members who are appointed by the governors of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and CNMI and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce:

  • Michael Duenas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association, (2015-2018, Guam), Vice Chair
  • Edwin Ebisui, Lawyer (Part-time Commercial Fisherman), (2014-2017, Hawaii),  Chair
  • Michael Goto, United Fishing Agency Ltd., (2015-2018, Hawaii)
  • Dean Senusi, (2016-2019, Hawaii)
  • Archie Taotasi Soliai , Starkist Samoa, (2016-2019, American Samoa)
  • McGrew Rice, Charter Fisherman, Ihu Nui Kona Sportfishing, (2014-2017, Hawaii), Vice Chair
  • John Gourley, Micronesian Environmental Services, (2014-2016, CNMI), Vice Chair
  • Christinna Lutu Sanchez, Longline Services, Inc, (2016-2019, American Samoa)

 

Four designated state officials:

  • Suzanne Case, Hawaii Dept. of Land & Natural Resources, Chair
  • Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources, Director
  • Richard Seman, CNMI Dept. of Lands and Natural Resources, Secretary 
  • Matt Sablan, Guam Dept. of Agriculture, Director

 

Four designated federal officials:

  • Michael Brakke, U.S. Department of State
  • RADM Vincent B. Atkins, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District
  • Michael Tosatto, Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service
  • Matthew Brown, Pacific Islands Refuges and Monuments Office 

 

Standing Committees

  • American Samoa Archipelago Ecosystem
    • Christinna Lutu Sanchez
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai
    • Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
    • Matthew Brown
  • Enforcement/VMS
    • John Gourley

    • Michael Goto

    • McGrew Rice

    • RADM Vincent Atkins

    • Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, Chair

    • Edwin Ebisui, Jr.
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai
  • Executive and Budget

    • Michael Duenas, Vice Chair, GU

    • John Gourley, Vice Chair, CNMI

    • Ed Ebisui, Chair, HI

    • McGrew Rice, Vice Chair, HI
  • Fishery Rights of Indigenous People

    • Michael Duenas, Chair

    • Christinna Lutu Sanchez
    • Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga

    • Matthew Brown

    • Suzanne Case
    • Richard Seman
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai
  • Hawaii Archipelago & PRIA Ecosystems
    • Suzanne Case, Chair


    • Edwin Ebisui, Jr.

    • Michael Goto

    • McGrew Rice

    • Dean Sensui
  • Mariana Archipelago Ecosystem
    • John Gourley

    • Matt Sablan, Co-Chair

    • Michael Duenas

    • Richard Seman, Co-Chair

    • Matthew Brown

  • Pelagic & International Ecosystems
    • Michael Goto, Co-Chair

    • Michael Duenas

    • Michael Brakke

    • Richard Seman

    • Christinna Lutu Sanchez

    • McGrew Rice, Co-Chair

    • RADMN Vincent Atkins

    • Michael Tosatto

  • Program Planning & Research

    • Suzanne Case

    • John Gourley, Chair

    • Richard Seman

    • Michael Tosatto

    • Dean Sensui
    • Matt Sablan
  • Protected Species
    • Suzanne Case
    • Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
    • Michael Tosatto
    • Matthew Brown
    • McGrew Rice
    • Richard Seman
    • Dean Sensui

     

    Financial Disclosures for Nominated Members: