HONOLULU (6 September 2024) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene Sept. 11-13, 2024, to address important issues impacting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands.

Noncommercial Fisheries Data Updates: The SSC will evaluate improvements to the Hawai‘i Marine Recreational Fishing Survey and review its potential use in stock assessments, annual catch limits and monitoring efforts. Presentations will cover the latest data improvements, feedback from a recent fishermen’s workshop and the potential to use the data in annual reports.

Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan: A new stock assessment update presented in June 2024 found that while the Guam bottomfish fishery is not overfished, it has not met rebuilding criteria. The SSC may provide recommendations on modifications to the rebuilding plan and review projections to rebuild the stock by 2031, in alignment with the Mariana Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan.

Guam Bottomfish Data for Future Assessments: The SSC will consider the Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review report on Guam bottomfish data and discuss how this data may be used in future stock assessments, including single-species and multi-model assessments.

Hawai‘i Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Tori Line Experiment: The SSC will review results from an experimental fishing project that tested tori (bird scaring) lines as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure. This pilot study was designed to explore an alternative combination of seabird mitigation techniques that could allow for more flexible fishing hours during dusk compared to the current night-setting requirements.

False Killer Whale Interaction Analysis: The SSC will review an analysis of foreign fleet impacts on false killer whale populations and may provide advice on managing interactions in Hawai‘i’s deep-set longline fishery.

Striped Marlin Rebuilding Plan: In light of recent stock assessment projections, the SSC will review potential rebuilding scenarios for striped marlin to inform the U.S. delegation at the upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting. The aim is to meet WCPFC targets of rebuilding the stock to 20% of unfished biomass by 2034.

Annual Research Prioritization: The SSC will identify priorities for 2025 from the adopted 2025-2029 Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act research priorities. The list may be ranked in order of importance to inform regional National Marine Fisheries Service research activities for next year.

The SSC meeting is open to in-person or remote participation via web conference for attendees. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/153ssc-meeting.

Scientific and Statistical Committee: James Lynch (chair); Jason Biggs (Guam Div. of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources); Debra Cabrera (University of Guam); Frank Camacho (University of Guam); Milani Chaloupka (University of Queensland); Erik Franklin (University of Hawai‘i, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology); Shelton Harley (Fisheries Consultant); Jason Helyer (Hawai‘i Div. of Aquatic Resources); Ray Hilborn (University of Washington); Justin Hospital (National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS PIFSC); Dave Itano (Fisheries Consultant); Donald Kobayashi (NMFS PIFSC); Steve Martell (Sea State Inc.); Domingo Ochavillo (American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources); Graham Pilling (The Pacific Community); Craig Severance (University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, retired); Francisco Villagomez (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Div. of Fish & Wildlife); Charles Littnan (ex-officio) (NMFS PIFSC).

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: Secretary of Commerce appointees from nominees selected by American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam and Hawai‘i governors: Will Sword, noncommercial fisherman/engineer (American Samoa) (chair); Roger Dang, Fresh Island Fish Co. (Hawai‘i) (vice chair); Judith Guthertz, University of Guam (Guam) (vice chair); Pete Itibus, noncommercial fisher (CNMI); Shaelene Kamaka‘ala, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (Hawai‘i); Frank Perez, AC Sales and Service, (Guam); Matt Ramsey, Conservation International (Hawai‘i); and Gene Weaver, Tasi to Table (CNMI). Designated state officials: Dawn Chang, Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources; Sylvan Igisomar, CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural Resources (vice chair); Chelsa Muña, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; and Archie Soliai, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources (vice chair). Designated federal officials (voting): Sarah Malloy, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. Designated federal officials (nonvoting): Colin Brinkman, U.S. State Dept.; Brian Peck, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and RADM Sean Regan, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District.