August 30, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council announces the following public meetings on fisheries management in offshore waters of Hawai‘i (HI), American Samoa (AS), Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIAs). Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will be held by web conference. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates. All times listed are local island times. For more information on the virtual meeting connection and complete agendas, go to www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars, email info@wpcouncil.org, fax (808) 522-8226 or phone (808) 522-8220.
Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee
September 1 (W) 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku fishery monitoring and management; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) sanctuary designation; Proposed Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) changes; Regional research priorities; and Fishermen observations.
HI Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP)
September 3 (F) 9 a.m. to noon (HST)
Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI deep-set longline (DSLL) fishery; NWHI sanctuary designation; MHI uku annual catch limit (ACL) specification; Proposed MSA changes; Report on HI bottomfish restricted fishing areas; HI fishermen observations update; and AP plans.
AS Archipelago FEP AP
September 7 (T) 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (SST)
Major agenda items: AS bottomfish updates; AS large vessel prohibited area update; Proposed MSA changes; AS fishermen observations update; and AP plans.
Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
September 9 (Th) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Military impacts on Guam fisheries; Import impacts on HI seafood markets; NWHI sanctuary designation; AS bottomfish rebuilding plan update; MHI uku ACL specification; and Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery.
Mariana Archipelago FEP-Guam AP
September 9 (Th) 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ChST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Bigeye tuna quota transfer review and options; Guam fishermen observations update; and AP plans.
Mariana Archipelago FEP-CNMI AP
September 11 (Sat) 9 a.m. to noon (ChST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Regional research priorities; CNMI fishermen observations update; and AP plans.
141st Scientific and Statistical Committee
Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/141SSCMtg. If prompted, password SSC141mtg.
September 14 – 16 (T – Th) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery (action item); and Second Tropical Tuna Workshop and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Committee Science Committee updates.
Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee (FDCRC)
September 20 (M) 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: FDCRC Strategic Plan 2022-2026; and Catchit Logit implementation report and transfer to territorial agencies.
Executive and Budget Standing Committee
September 20 (M) 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Financial and administrative matters; and Council family changes.
187th Council Meeting
Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/187CouncilMtg. If prompted, password CM187mtg.
Host sites: Tedi of Samoa Bldg., Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, AS
BRI Bldg., Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI
Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatña, Guam
September 21 – 23 (T – Th) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Standardized bycatch reporting methodology and fishery ecosystem plan amendments (action item); Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery (action item); AS bottomfish rebuilding plan (action item); and MHI uku ACLs for fishing years 2022-25 (action item).
Written comments on final action items on the 187th Council meeting agenda received by Sept. 17, 2021, will be distributed to Council members prior to meeting. Direct comments to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPRFMC, and mail to 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; fax to (808) 522-8226; or email to info@wpcouncil.org. Written comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting.