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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)
  • Archie Taotasi Soliai , Starkist Samoa, (2016-2019, American Samoa), Vice Chair
  • Michael Duenas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association, (2015-2018, Guam), Vice Chair
  • Michael Goto, United Fishing Agency Ltd., (2015-2018, Hawaii)
  • Dean Senusi, Hawaii Goes Fishing, (2016-2019, Hawaii), Vice Chair
  • Edwin Ebisui, Lawyer (Part-time Commercial Fisherman), (2017-2020, CNMI),  Chair
  • John Gourley, Micronesian Environmental Services, (2014-2016, CNMI), Vice Chair

 

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
  • Matt Sablan, Guam Dept. of Agriculture, Director

 

Four designated federal officials:

  • Michael Brakke, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Officer
  • RADM Vincent B. Atkins, 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 Vincent Atkins

    • Matt Sablan, Chair

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

    • Michael Duenas, Vice Chair, GU

    • John Gourley, Vice Chair, CNMI

    • Ed Ebisui, Chair

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

    • Matthew Brown

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

    • Edwin Ebisui, Jr.

    • Michael Goto

    • Dean Sensui
  • Mariana Archipelago Ecosystem
    • John Gourley

    • Matt Sablan, Co-Chair

    • Michael Duenas

    • Raymond Roberto, Co-Chair

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

    • RADMN Vincent Atkins

    • Michael Tosatto

  • Program Planning & Research

    • John Gourley, Chair

    • Raymond Roberto

    • Michael Tosatto

    • Dean Sensui
    • Michael Duenas
    • Edwin Ebisui, Jr

Protected Species

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

 

Financial Disclosures for Nominated Members: