News + Announcements
FR Notice – 2020 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Nov. 23, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement. SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000...
FR notice – Interim Measures for American Samoa Bottomfish (Nov. 16, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; interim measures. SUMMARY: This temporary rule implements an interim catch limit (ICL) of 13,000 lb of American Samoa bottomfish...
Western Pacific Region Status of the Fisheries 2019
To monitor the fisheries, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council publishes annual reports for the five fishery ecosystem plans that the Council has developed, monitored and amended. The Western Pacific Region Status of the Fisheries 2019 summarizes...
FR notice – Swordfish Trip Limits in the American Samoa Pelagic Longline Fishery (Nov. 10, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule removes the swordfish retention limit in the American Samoa deep-set longline fishery. The intent of this...
Press Release – WPRFMC Spotlights the History of Hawai‘i Lobster Fishery in Latest Publication (10 November 2020)
HONOLULU (10 November 2020) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has published the first of seven new issues in its historical Pacific Islands Fishery Monographs series. Taking a deep look into the history and current state of some of Hawai‘i’s most...
FR Notice – 2021 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits (Nov. 09, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed specifications; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes a 2021 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for...
Press Release – Community Stakeholders Discuss Issues Key to Sustainable Fisheries (5 November 2020)
HONOLULU (5 November 2020) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recently convened three virtual meetings in its continued efforts to support regional and local fishing and seafood communities. The meetings highlight the Council’s emphasis on...
FR notice – Draft Recovery Plan and Draft Recovery Implementation Strategy for the Main Hawaiian Islands Insular False Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment and Notice of Initiation of 5- Year Review (Oct. 16, 2020)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION:Notice of availability of draft recovery plan and draft recovery implementation strategy; request for comments; notice of initiation...
Request for Comments – 2020–2023 Hawaii Kona Crab Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measure (October 15, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: This proposed rule would establish annual catch limits (ACLs) of 30,802 pound (lb)...
FR Notice – Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (October 15, 2020)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of agency decision. SUMMARY: NMFS announces approval of a Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) for Pacific Insular Areas other than American...