NMFS Announces Final Rule Designating ESA Critical Habitat for the Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whales

by wpcouncil | Jul 24, 2018 | Federal Register Notices, News and Updates, Protected Species

On July 24, 2018, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a final rule to designate critical habitat for the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular false killer whale distinct population segment (DPS). The critical habitat encompasses waters from 45-meter...

FR Notice – Closure of Southern Exclusion Zone to Hawaii Longline Vessels (July 18, 2018)

by wpcouncil | Jul 18, 2018 | Federal Register Notices, News and Updates, Protected Species

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; area closure; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) to deep-set longline fishing...

FR Notice – Request for Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups (July 16, 2018)

by wpcouncil | Jul 16, 2018 | Federal Register Notices, News and Updates, Protected Species

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for nominations. SUMMARY: As required by of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Secretary of Commerce established three...

FR Notice – List of Fisheries for 2018 (Feb. 7, 2018) (Final Rule)

by wpcouncil | Feb 7, 2018 | Federal Register Notices, News and Updates, Protected Species

SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2018, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The LOF for 2018 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine...

Press Release – Fishery Management Council Acts on CNMI Request to Help with Sea Turtle, Shark Issues

by wpcouncil | Jun 7, 2016 | News and Updates, Press Releases, Protected Species

COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLAND (7 March 2016) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council today in Saipan responded to the request by  Victor Hocog, Acting Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), for  assistance to...

Final Rule Published for the Hawaiian Monk Seal Critical Habitat

by wpcouncil | Aug 27, 2015 | General, News and Updates, Protected Species

On August 21, 2015, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the final rule to revise critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals. Critical habitat triggers consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for actions that are authorized,...