News + Announcements
New Article Available – “Area‐based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs”
Check out a scientific paper recently published on "Area‐based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs." Authors include several Council Science and Statistical Committee members and staff. Open-ocean marine ecosystems are always...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Recommends a New US Strategy in the Pacific Islands with the WCPFC (9 December 2021)
HONOLULU (09 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council discussed outcomes from the December Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting, including proposed protections on sharks, and conservation and management of...
Press Release – US Pacific Federal Fishery Managers Recommend Tori Lines, New American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment Approach (08 December 2021)
HONOLULU (08 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended today to replace blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discharge with tori lines in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery’s suite of seabird conservation measures. This...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Endorse US Proposal to Increase Bigeye Tuna Quota (02 December 2021)
HONOLULU (02 December 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council this week discussed issues related to bigeye tuna management at the ongoing Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Support Tori Lines Over Blue-Dyed Bait in Tuna Fishery and Exploring New Bottomfish Management Approach (30 November 2021)
HONOLULU (30 November 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council continued to support replacing blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discard requirements in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists to Consider Seabird Conservation Measures, Research to Inform Management Decisions (26 November 2021)
HONOLULU (26 November 2021) Scientists will meet Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2021, to provide advice and comments to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on domestic seabird conservation measures, tagging studies to inform management decisions, tropical tuna...
Open Ocean Fishing in the Mariana Archipelago video
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council sponsored the production of a ~26-minute film on “Open Ocean Fishing in the Mariana Archipelago.” The film features archaeological evidence for open ocean fishing dating back 3,000 years, then moves through...
Fall 2021 Pacific Islands Fishery News
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FR notice – Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Designation of a National Marine Sanctuary Within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (comments due by Jan. 31, 2022)
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement and hold public scoping meetings; request for...
Request for Comments – Amendment 6 to the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago; Rebuilding Plan for Guam Bottomfish (Comments due Jan. 14, 2021)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery ecosystem plan amendment; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery...