News + Announcements
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Found “Weak Hook” Study Inconclusive as a False Killer Whale Mitigation Strategy ( 15 March 2022)
HONOLULU (15 March 2022) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) found that a National Marine Fisheries Service 2021 “weak hook” study was inconclusive and did not provide scientific support for adopting weaker hooks as the primary strategy for reducing impacts...
FR Notice – Request for Comments on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (Mar. 11, 2022)
AGENCY: Department of Commerce. ACTION: Request for comments. SUMMARY: On October 27, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden announced that the United States would explore the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to deepen economic relations in the Indo-Pacific...
Press Release – Fishing Industry Members Advise Managers on Proposed Sanctuaries and Other Issues Important to Western Pacific Region (10 March 2022)
HONOLULU (10 March 2022) The Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) met today to provide advice and recommendations to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council when it meets March 22-24. NWHI and Marianas Trench Proposed SanctuariesThe FIAC...
FR Notice – Review of Nomination for Mariana Trench National Marine Sanctuary (Mar. 10, 2022)
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice; reopening of public comment period. SUMMARY: On January 21, 2022, NOAA published a...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists to Discuss Research on Area-Based Management and “Weak Hooks” as a Mitigation Strategy (10 March 2022)
HONOLULU (10 March 2022) Scientists across the Western Pacific Region will meet virtually March 15 to 17, 2022, to provide advice and comments to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on area-based management, a weak hook study, American Samoa...
FR Notice – False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan; Trigger for the Southern Exclusion Zone Closure Met in 2021 (Mar. 8, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: In 2021, four observed mortalities or serious injuries (M&SI) of false killer whales occurred...
Winter 2022 Pacific Island Fisheries News
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FR Notice – Rebuilding Plan for Guam Bottomfish (Feb. 18, 2022)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Final rule. SUMMARY:This final rule implements a rebuilding plan that includes annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for the...
Request for Comments – Rebuilding Plan for the American Samoa Bottomfish Fishery (Comments due by March 21, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement a rebuilding plan that includes annual catch limits (ACL) and...
Request for Comments – Purse Seine Observer Exemptions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (Comments due by March 7, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the...