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, (2012-2015, Guam), Vice Chair
- Edwin Ebisui, Lawyer (Part-time Commercial Fisherman), (2014-2017, Hawaii), Chair
- Mike Goto, United Fishing Agency Ltd., (2012-2015, Hawaii)
- Julie Leialoha, Wao Kele O Puna Forest Reserve, (2013-2016, Hawaii)
- Claire Poumele, Port Administration, (2012-2015, American Samoa)
- McGrew Rice, Charter Fisherman, Ihu Nui Kona Sportfishing, (2014-2017, Hawaii)
- John Gourley, Micronesian Environmental Services, (2014-2016, CNMI), Vice Chair
- William Sword, PT Recreational Fisherman, Pacific Energy South-West Pacific Ltd., (2013-2016, American Samoa), Vice Chair
Four designated state officials:
- Carty Chang, Hawaii Dept. of Land & Natural Resources, Acting Chair
- Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources, Director
- Manny Pangelinan, CNMI Dept. of Lands and Natural Resources, Acting Secretary
- Mariquita Taitague, Guam Dept. of Agriculture, Director
Four designated federal officials:
- David Hogan, U.S. Department of State
- RADM Cari B. Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District
- Mike Tosatto, Pacific Islands Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service
- Susan White, Pacific Reefs National Wildlife Refuges Complex
Standing Committees
- American Samoa Archipelago Ecosystem
- William Sword, Chair
- Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
- Claire Poumele
- Susan White
- Enforcement/VMS
- John Gourley
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Michael Goto
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McGrew Rice
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RADM Cari Thomas
-
Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, Chair
-
Michael Tosatto
- Executive and Budget
-
Michael Duenas, Vice Chair, GU
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John Gourley, Vice Chair, CNMI
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William Sword, Vice Chair, AS
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Ed Ebisui, Acting Chair, HI
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- Fishery Rights of Indigenous People
- Claire Poumele, Chair
-
Michael Duenas
-
Julie Leialoha
-
John Gourley
-
Mariquita Taitigue
-
Susan White
- Hawaii Archipelago & PRIA Ecosystems
- Carty Chang
-
Julie Leialoha, Chair
-
Edwin Ebisui
-
Michael Goto
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McGrew Rice
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Susan White
- Mariana Archipelago Ecosystem
- John Gourley
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Mariquita Taitigue, Chair
-
Michael Duenas
-
Manny Pangelinan
-
Susan White
- Pelagic & International Ecosystems
- Michael Goto, Chair
-
Michael Duenas
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David Hogan
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Manny Pangelinan
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Claire Poumele
-
McGrew Rice
-
RADMN Cari Thomas
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Michael Tosatto
- Program Planning & Research
-
Edwin Ebisui
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Carty Chang
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John Gourley, Chair
-
William Sword
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Mariquita Taitigue
-
Michael Tosatto
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- Protected Species
- McGrew Rice, Chair
- Carty Chang
- Ruth Matagi-Tofiga
- John Gourley
- Mariquita Taitigue
- Michael Tosatto
- Susan White
