News + Announcements
Proposed Changes to Seabird Measures for Hawaiʻi Deep-Set Longline Fishery (Comments due by November 16, 2023)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to modify seabird interaction mitigation measures to require federally permitted...
Press Release – Tropical Tuna Workshops Lead to Progress in Developing Favorable Management Measure for U.S. Pacific Island Fisheries (9 October 2023)
HONOLULU (9 October 2023) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority convened an informal meeting last week to discuss longline fishery management components of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries...
Press Release – Status Quo Preferable for Proposed Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary (19 September 2023)
HONOLULU (19 September 2023) Existing fishing regulations which govern the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) may be sufficient for the proposed national marine sanctuary, said the Western Pacific Regional Fishery...
Press Release – Existing Fishing Regulations Sufficient to Meet Proposed PRI Sanctuary Goals, Science Advisors Say (13 September 2023)
HONOLULU (13 September 2023) The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) at its meeting today discussed potential fishing regulations for the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) National Marine Sanctuary designation. The Office of National Marine...
Press Release – Council Science Advisors Weigh In on American Samoa Bottomfish Catch Limits, EM in Pacific Islands Region (12 September 2023)
HONOLULU (12 September 2023) The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) today reviewed options to sustainably fish for American Samoa bottomfish species caught in federal waters 3-200 miles offshore from 2024 to 2026. In their discussion, SSC members...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists to Advise Fishery Management Council on American Samoa Bottomfish, Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary (8 September 2023)
HONOLULU (8 September 2023) Scientific advisors to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 12-14, 2023, to provide advice and comments on American Samoa bottomfish stocks, the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) sanctuary, U.S....
Summer 2023 Pacific Island Fishery News
Click here for printable PDF. Newsletter articles listed in order 1 - Council and AS Leaders Frustrated by Continued Fishery Management Through Sanctuaries and Monuments in the Pacific 8 - Rising Tides and Changing Times: Climate Change in American Samoa 2 - Federal...
Western Pacific Region Status of the Fisheries 2022
To monitor and evaluate fishery performance, the Council publishes annual reports for each of its five fishery ecosystem-based management plans. The Council’s Western Pacific Region Status of the Fisheries 2022 report is now available. The publication highlights some...
Green Sea Turtle Critical Habitat Proposed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and CNMI; Public Comment Period through October 17, 2023
On July 18, 2023, US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published proposed rules to designate critical habitat for populations of green sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). USFWS and NMFS will...
Press Release – Western Pacific Council Challenged by NOAA Prohibition on Commercial Fishing for Proposed Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary (3 July 2023)
HONOLULU (3 July 2023) Congresswoman Amata Radewagen from American Samoa expressed her deep concern regarding the lack of consultation with the U.S. territories affected by the NOAA proposed sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. In a video message during the...