Press Releases
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...
Press Release – Online Portal for the 2020 Annual Fishery Evaluation Reports Now Available (2 November 2021)
HONOLULU (2 November 2021) The 2020 annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports have been released on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s online portal: wpcouncildata.org. These reports on nearshore and pelagic fisheries in the...
Press Release – US Pacific Fishery Managers Recommend Quota for American Samoa Bottomfish (19 October 2021)
HONOLULU (19 October 2021) Today, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a 5,000-pound annual catch limit (ACL) for the American Samoa bottomfish stock complex. According to a 2019...
Press Release – Federal Fishery Managers to Choose Alternative for American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (14 October 2021)
HONOLULU (14 October 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet virtually Oct. 19, 2021, and take final action on the American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan. The agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the...
Press Release – US Pacific Fishery Managers Set Uku Catch Limits in Hawai‘i, Support Exploring Cultural Take of Green Sea Turtles (23 September 2021)
HONOLULU (23 September 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a 291,010-pound annual catch target for uku in the main Hawaiian Islands. This would include an in-season...
Press Release – Western Pacific Fishery Managers Recommend Improved Seabird Conservation Measures (22 September 2021)
HONOLULU (22 September 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended modifications to a regulatory amendment as an initial action to improve seabird conservation in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. A recent tori line study showed...