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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:

  • Christinna Lutu-Sanchez, Longline Services, Inc, (2016-2019, American Samoa), Vice Chair
  • Archie Taotasi Soliai , Starkist Samoa, (2016-2019, American Samoa), Chairman
  • Michael Duenas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association, (2018-2021, Guam), Vice Chair
  • Michael Goto, United Fishing Agency Ltd., (2017-2020, Hawaii)
  • Dean Sensui, Hawaii Goes Fishing, (2016-2019, Hawaii), Vice Chair
  • John Gourley, Micronesian Environmental Services, (2017-2020, CNMI), Vice Chair
  • Edwin Watamura, Waialua Boat Club, (2018-2021, Hawaii)
  • McGrew Rice, Ihu Nui Charters, (2018-2020, Hawaii)

 

Four designated state officials:

  • Suzanne Case, Hawaii Dept. of Land & Natural Resources, DLNR Chairperson
  • Henry Sesepasara, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources, Director
  • Raymond Roberto, CNMI Dept. of Lands and Natural Resources, Invasive Species Coordinator
  • Chelsa Muña-Brecht, Guam Dept. of Agriculture, Director

 

Four designated federal officials:

  • Michael Brakke, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Officer
  • RADM Kevin E. Lunday, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District, District Commander
  • Michael Tosatto, Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Regional Administrator
  • Brian Peck, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – RAMNM , Superintendent

 

Standing Committees

  • American Samoa Archipelago Ecosystem
    • Christinna Lutu-Sanchez
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai, Chair
    • Brian Peck
    • Henry Sesepasara
  • Enforcement/VMS

    • Michael Goto

    • RADM Kevin E. Lunday

    • Chelsa Muña-Brecht

    • Edwin Watamura
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai
  • Executive and Budget

    • Michael Duenas, Vice Chair, GU

    • John Gourley, Vice Chair, CNMI

    • Christinna Lutu-Sanchez, Vice Chair, AS
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai, Chairman
    • Dean Sensui, Vice Chair, HI
  • Fishery Rights of Indigenous People
    • Raymond Roberto, Chair
    • Christinna Lutu-Sanchez

    • Matthew Brown

    • Suzanne Case
    • Dean Sensui
    • Archie Taotasi Soliai
  • Hawaii Archipelago & PRIA Ecosystems
    • Suzanne Case, Chair

    • Edwin Watamura

    • Michael Goto

    • Dean Sensui
  • Mariana Archipelago Ecosystem
    • John Gourley

    • Chelsa Muña-Brecht, Co-Chair

    • Michael Duenas

    • Raymond Roberto, Co-Chair

    • Brian Peck
  • Pelagic & International Ecosystems
    • Michael Goto, Chair
    • Michael Brakke
    • Raymond Roberto
    • Christinna Lutu-Sanchez

    • Michael Tosatto

  • Program Planning & Research

    • John Gourley, Chair

    • Raymond Roberto

    • Michael Tosatto

    • Dean Sensui
    • Michael Duenas
  • Protected Species
    • Brian Peck
    • Raymond Roberto
    • Suzanne Case
    • Dean Sensui, Chair
    • Henry Sespasara
    • Michael Tosatto

 

Financial Disclosures for Nominated Members: