Press Releases
Press Release-Recovering Green Sea Turtles Prompt New Dialogue on Culture and Sustainable Use in the Western Pacific (26 March 2026)
HONOLULU (26 March 2026) For many Pacific Island communities, green sea turtles are more than a protected species. They are part of ceremony, identity, family teaching and a way of life that many say has been interrupted for generations. Now, as green sea turtle...
Press Release-WP Fishery Council Demands Inclusion of Cultural Value in Federal Prioritization Framework (25 March 2026)
HONOLULU (25 March 2026) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council today advanced follow-up work on fisheries science and management priorities, reaffirmed its seafood Executive Order recommendations from its September 2025 meeting, and took action on...
Press Release-WP Council Takes Final Action on Commercial Fishing Access in Pacific Marine National Monuments (25 March 2026)
HONOLULU (25 March 2026) After a full discussion and hearing approximately 70 written and oral public comments at its 206th meeting, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council took final action to restore commercial fishing in parts of the Pacific Islands...
Press Release-WP Council to Consider Restoring Fishing in Pacific Marine Monuments (20 March 2026)
HONOLULU (20 March 2026) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will deliberate on two major actions at its 206th meeting next week allowing U.S. fishermen to fish in U.S. Pacific marine national monuments. The first action concerns the Pacific...
Press Release-SSC Backs Reopening US Monument Waters to Strengthen American Fishing and Science (19 March 2026)
HONOLULU (19 March 2026) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended reopening part of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, a move aimed at restoring...
Press Release-SSC Reviews Science Priorities as NOAA Funding Tightens (18 March 2026)
HONOLULU (18 March 2026) At its meeting yesterday, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council reviewed a preliminary National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) risk/value matrix intended to align science and...
Press Release-SSC to Review Monument Fishing, False Killer Whale Science and Kona Crab Limits at March Meeting (13 March 2026)
HONOLULU (13 March 2026) From monument fishing regulations to false killer whale science and Hawai‘i fishery catch limits, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will take up several key issues at its March...
Press Release-Fishermen and Scientists Unite to Tackle Shark Depredation in the Pacific Islands (19 February 2026)
HONOLULU (19 February 2026) — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, in partnership with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, hosted the region’s first shark depredation workshop Feb. 10–11, 2026, to address the issue and develop mitigation...
Press Release-Fishers, Scientists and Community Invited to Talk Shark Depredation (06 February 2026)
HONOLULU (06 February 2026) — More and more Hawaiʻi, Guam, American Samoa, and Mariana fishers are reporting the same frustrating story: sharks showing up on the grounds, taking fish off the line and biting into hard-earned catch. It’s not just lost fish — it’s lost...
Press Release-WP Council Moves EM Implementation Forward, Backs Satellite Connectivity for Safety and Data (17 December 2025)
HONOLULU (17 December 2025) On the second day of its 205th meeting, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council advanced key actions to strengthen monitoring, improve at-sea communications and support U.S. Pacific territories in international tuna...
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