News + Announcements
Council Sends Letter to President Obama about NWHI monument expansion request
On April 8, 2016, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council wrote to President Obama regarding a January 2016 request to expand the expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Click...
Why U.S. Fisheries Are A Global Model Of Sustainability
Why U.S. Fisheries Are A Global Model Of Sustainability (Click here for pdf) Outcomes from management and conservation legislation in place now for four decades include benefits throughout the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Ocean more broadly. · By Michael Tosatto...
The Council sends letter to Mary Junck congratulating AP’s Pulitzer prize for uncovering slavery in the seafood industry
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council congratulations and appreciates the excellent work conducted by the Associated Press journalists in uncovering the slave trade for the seafood industry in South East Asia, most notably in Thailand and Indonesia....
Press Release – US Pacific Island Fishery Scientists to Review 2015 Fishery Performance
HONOLULU (7 April 2016) Fishery scientists from American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Hawaii will join NOAA scientists next week to review last year’s performance of federally managed fisheries in the Western Pacific Region....
Advisory Panel Applications available for American Samoa and Hawaii
Applications for the Council’s Advisory Panel Available The Council is currently soliciting for an Advisory Panel member for American Samoa to be a part of its Island Fisheries subpanel. The Council is also recruiting for alternate members for the American Samoa and...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Addresses Fisheries of American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam (17 March 2016)
HONOLULU (17 March 2016) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, this week in Honolulu, recommended a suite of management decisions and recommendations for the near and offshore fisheries of American Samoa, Hawaii and Guam. They include the following,...
Press Release – NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator Lauds US Fishery Management Councils (14 March 2016)
HONOLULU (15 March 2016) Samuel D. Rauch III, NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, praised the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils as the "key for the success" of both "environmental and economic progress" in the nation's...
Draft revised Fishery Ecosystem Plans are now available for public review
Revised Fishery Ecosystem Plan Goals and Objectives Below are the available Draft FEPs for public review Draft revised American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan with Appendices Draft revised Hawaii Fishery Ecosystem Plan and Appendices Draft revised Marianas Fishery...
Press Release – Distinguished Fisheries Professor Ray Hilborn Discusses Sustainability of World Fisheries with Hawaii Fishing Community
HONOLULU (11 February 2016) Professor Ray Hilborn of the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, and author of Overfishing: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press), yesterday in Honolulu addressed the topic of “Sustainability of...
Press Release – Feds Approve Exemption of US Longline Vessels in American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area as Recommended by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
HONOLULU (29 January 2016) Effective today, US federally permitted longline vessels in American Samoa that are over 50 feet in length can fish for pelagic species in certain areas of the American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA). The National Marine Fisheries...