December 11, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet Dec. 12-13, 2024, to address key issues affecting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands.
Electronic Monitoring Program Development for Western Pacific Fisheries:Electronic monitoring (EM) is a voluntary program in Western Pacific longline fisheries for the purpose of research and development. The SSC will discuss decision points the Council may take to transition EM to required monitoring. The Council is considering options for EM implementation, including whether it should be implemented as a phased-in and optional or fully mandatory program, its scope across fisheries, and how it will supplement existing logbook and human observer programs. The SSC may advise the Council on EM authorization and provide guidance on processing EM data to improve the estimation of protected species interactions in fisheries.
American Samoa Bottomfish Revision: In June 2023, the SSC recommended the Council revise the American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan to update the bottomfish management unit species list and explore a “rate-based” approach to annual catch limits for data-limited fisheries. The SSC may advise whether this flexible “Tier 6” method should apply solely to American Samoa bottomfish or be expanded to other regional fisheries.
Main Hawaiian Islands Uku Update: The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) will present a 2024 update to the 2020 benchmark stock assessment for main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku, incorporating five additional years of catch, catch per unit effort and size data, along with corrections for recreational catch estimates. The updated assessment shows the fishery is healthy—not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The SSC will review and potentially endorse recommendations from a stock assessment review panel that the assessment is the best available science for management.
Strategic Planning: The SSC will discuss progress on its strategic planning exercise, launched at the 153rd meeting in September, to shape its work and membership for the coming years. The initiative aims to address evolving fishery management challenges while enhancing the recruitment and retention of top scientists.
False Killer Whale Interaction Analysis: The SSC will discuss its review of an analysis aimed at estimating foreign fleet fishing effort and associated false killer whale bycatch in an area that overlaps with the fishing area of the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. The analysis was conducted by PIFSC, with input from SSC members, earlier in 2024. The SSC will discuss the uncertainties associated with data used in the analysis, along with implications for the recovery factor used to determine allowable removals and Hawai‘i longline fishery impacts.
Noncommercial Fisheries Data Updates: The SSC will review updates to the MRIP Pacific Islands Regional Implementation Plan for 2025-2029, which prioritizes projects to improve noncommercial data collection. The SSC will discuss an alternative method for estimating noncommercial data for the MHI bottomfish fishery and evaluate its potential inclusion in the plan. The Committee will also assess the method’s utility and may recommend modifications to support the Plan Team in developing a noncommercial module for annual reports.
The SSC meeting is open for in-person or remote participation via web conference. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/154ssc-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); Keena Leon Guerrero (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 (acting), 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.