Press Releases
Press Release-WP Council Urges Stronger Standards for Marine Mammal Protection in Seafood Imports (18 September 2025)
HONOLULU (18 September 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council yesterday called on NOAA to strengthen its new Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Import Provisions, which were published in the Federal Register on Sept. 2, 2025. The Council urged...
Press Release-Council Responds to President Trump’s Mandates, Recommends Opening Monuments to Commercial Fishing (16 September 2025)
HONOLULU (16 September 2025) After a long day of discussion and public comments, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, at its 204th meeting today, agreed to move forward allowing commercial fishing within the four marine national monuments in the...
Press Release-Scientific Committee Recommends CNMI Bottomfish Catch, Highlights Key Research Challenges for Pacific Fisheries (15 September 2025)
HONOLULU (15 September 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) concluded its 157th meeting last week, providing key scientific recommendations to the Council on bottomfish management, climate impacts,...
Press Release-Council to Decide on Fishing in the Monuments and Seafood Policy at Upcoming Meeting (12 September 2025)
HONOLULU (12 September 2025) At its 204th meeting next week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will decide whether to recommend lifting commercial fishing prohibitions in parts of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. On April...
Press Release-Sharks, Science and Sustainability on SSC Agenda Next Week (05 September 2025)
HONOLULU (05 September 2025) From sharks to deep-sea mining to catch limits, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will take on some of the Pacific’s most pressing ocean issues next week, Sept. 9-11, 2025,...
Press Release-Hawai‘i Island Community Consultation-Round 2: Navigating Change (13 August 2025)
HONOLULU (13 August 2025) Continuing to build on conversations from the March 2025 meetings, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and partners will host the 2nd in a series of community consultation meetings on Hawai‘i Island. EVERYONE WELCOME! We...
Press Release-Voices from the Sea: Shaping the Future of Fishing in American Samoa (23 June 2025)
HONOLULU (23 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is coming to American Samoa to hear directly from the people who know the ocean best—the local fishermen. Through a series of community meetings, the Council aims to gather first-hand...
Press Release-WP Council Reaffirms NWHI Fisheries Were Sustainable, Urges Policy Shift Aligned with EO 14276 (12 June 2025)
HONOLULU (12 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has reaffirmed its longstanding position that commercial fisheries in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) were sustainably managed prior to the designation of Papahānaumokuākea as a...
Press Release-WPRFMC Approves Mandatory Electronic Monitoring for Hawai‘i and American Samoa Longline Fleets (11 June 2025)
HONOLULU (11 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council took final action today to authorize the use of electronic monitoring (EM) as a mandatory tool for data collection aboard longline vessels operating under Hawai‘i and American Samoa...
Press Release-Fishers Forum Sheds Light on the Challenges and Passion Behind Hawai‘i’s Commercial Fishing Industry (10 June 2025)
HONOLULU (10 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) hosted a lively and thought-provoking Fishers Forum last night, June 9, at the Ala Moana Hotel. Titled “From Hanapa‘a to How Much? What It Takes to Fish and Sell in Hawai‘i,” the...
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