Council Actions

March 27, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

“This is our food, our way of life and the management of these waters impacts our communities.”

Today, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council heard a report from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) summarizing community meetings held in February and March. These meetings gathered fishers’ perspectives on how changing ocean conditions and policies are affecting them. A common theme emerged—fishers provide for families, yet this essential role is often overlooked.

Key Concerns

Shifts in Seasonality and Environments: Traditional fishing patterns are shifting due to changes in fish distributions, impacting fishing efficiency and reliability. “Trips in Guam that used to take two hours now take all day,” one fisher shared. In the CNMI, the ti’ao(juvenile goatfish) season has been unpredictable, while in Hawai‘i, albacore is being caught out of season.

Communities also highlighted the need for better data collection in the CNMI, which could be improved by including catches from Rota and the Northern Islands.

Shark Depredation: Increased shark interference is affecting fishers’ livelihoods. “One Kona fisherman reported losing all six ‘ahi he caught in a day to sharks,” noted Alex Min of PIFG. Some fishers observed that sharks are more frequently found near marine protected areas, leading to concerns about ecosystem balance.

The Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology Shark Lab has a shark deterrent research program. The Council is inviting HIMB to provide a report at its next meeting in June to learn if they have identified methods that could be used by fishermen to improve their catches.

The Council decision-making process is “bottom up” and recognizes the importance of ongoing community dialogue and ensuring fishers’ voices shape policy decisions. Future meetings will be held in Hawai‘i in April and in American Samoa in May, with additional follow-ups across the region in August.

Trump Administration’s Executive Orders

The Council addressed key regulatory issues in response to recent mandates issued by the Trump Administration, including the Department of Government Efficiency and Rescission of Harmful Executive Orders (EOs) and the America First Policy Directive. In particular, the Council discussed potential regulations for elimination under EO 14192, Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation, which requires each federal agency to eliminate at least 10 existing regulations for any new regulation.

Council member Chelsa Muña, director of the Guam Department of Agriculture, criticized the restrictions, stating, “These regulations hamper our ability to manage resources we have successfully stewarded for generations.” As an example, she pointed to the proposed listing of giant clams and Guam’s ongoing aquaculture hatchery efforts. “It is ludicrous to list giant clams while we are actively working on solutions, and even more frustrating that we would need a federal permit just to outplant them in our own waters,” she added.

The Council will advise the Administration of its Endangered Species Act (ESA) concerns: proposed critical habitat designations for corals and green sea turtles; proposed giant clams listing; ESA-related measures like the oceanic whitetip shark take prohibition, where the population is projected to increase; and recognition of indigenous cultural harvest of green sea turtles. The Council will request a review of these issues within the Administration’s policy framework and EOs. Council members supported efforts to rescind or revise unnecessary regulations, aligning with the Administration’s focus on reducing regulatory burdens.

March 26, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

At the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting today, discussions on electronic monitoring (EM) in longline fisheries in Hawai‘i and American Samoa focused on cost allocation, funding strategies and economic viability.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) confirmed it will cover $4 million in upfront EM program costs, separate from the estimated $2.4 million in annual expenses. This contrasts with the $7 million spent annually on the human observer program. While NMFS will fund server replacements and data storage, industry could be responsible for replacing EM systems at $10,000 per vessel every three years.

American Samoa Vice Chair Archie Soliai questioned whether NMFS would commit to cost-sharing beyond three years. Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds urged NMFS to seek funding from NOAA Headquarters, arguing that federally mandated monitoring costs should not fall on industry. “If the federal government requires monitoring under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act, it needs to pay for it, regardless of whether the Council initiates its implementation,” Simonds stated. “We have been suggesting EM since 2002.”

The Council’s Advisory Panel (AP) vice chairs also highlighted the financial strain on the fleets. Nate Ilaoa (American Samoa) said, “It’s not an exaggeration to say we could face total economic collapse in American Samoa. The fleet ensures our seat at management bodies like the Council and tuna commission.” The AP supported reconsidering regulations to help sustain the industry.

Gil Kuali‘i (Hawai‘i) noted the industry prefers EM over observers. “If EM is the gold standard, this is a win for everyone. Our island fisheries are not subsidized, and the fleet shouldn’t be absorbing these costs. EM is more cost-effective.”

Following deliberations, the Council decided that NMFS should cover all EM costs, including administrative and sampling expenses, emphasizing that EM is intended to monitor protected species interactions, particularly as human observer coverage declines. The Council requested analyses on how different ways to implement an EM program could reduce regulatory and financial burdens.

American Samoa members called for support from the federal government for the territory’s longline fishing industry. Vice Chair Soliai pointed to restrictive federal policies limiting fleet growth and commercial fishing access, calling for congressional action to address these barriers. Council members also discussed disaster relief options under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, citing declining catch rates, rising costs and foreign fishing pressure. “We don’t want to give our fish to the Chinese just to buy it back from them,” said Council Chair Will Sword, raising concerns about unregulated foreign activity in U.S. federal waters.

Action Item Outcomes

• The Council recommended a U.S. catch limit of 393.4 metric tons of striped marlin for 2025–2027 in the Pacific Ocean, with a 381.5 metric ton retention limit for Hawai‘i longline vessels. Catch limits for 2026 and 2027 may be adjusted if the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission modifies the U.S. catch limit.
• The Council recommended setting an annual catch limit of 401,020 pounds for uku(gray jobfish/blue-green snapper) caught in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) from 2026 to 2029, with a 36% risk of overfishing. As an accountability measure (AM), the Council recommended implementing a post-season adjustment, reducing the following year’s quota if the three-year average catch exceeds the limit.
• For MHI deepwater shrimp and precious corals, the Council recommended keeping current catch limits in place through 2028 (see table). These fisheries have low harvest levels. The 2022-2023 average catch for deepwater shrimp was 19,287 pounds. The associated post-season AM is similar to the one for uku.

The Council meeting continues tomorrow Wednesday, March 26, 2025, with a status update on national marine sanctuaries in the Western Pacific region, a report on fishing community meetings in the Mariana Islands and Big Island of Hawai‘i, and fishing initiatives in Guam and the CNMI.

In-Person: Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom (2005 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI)

Online: Join remotely via web conference: https://tinyurl.com/202CouncilMtg

Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/202nd-council-meeting

March 17, 2025 — 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) met this week and reviewed protected species management in the region’s fisheries. Discussions underscored the growing influence of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in regulating fisheries, often overshadowing the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary federal law governing U.S. fisheries.

Council staff provided an update on the ongoing efforts of the Council’s protected species program, emphasizing the mandates for addressing interactions between fisheries and protected species. Staff highlighted past successes in reducing these interactions through innovative gear mitigation measures and technology transfer.

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) shared updates on the status of false killer whale stocks, including the final 2023 stock assessment report and outcomes from a 2024 survey. Based on updated assumptions about data uncertainties, the removal limit for the stock has been revised upward from 33 to 36 individuals. This is the number of individuals that could be removed from the stock to maintain optimal stock size.

The SSC raised concerns about disparities in how protected species assessments are reviewed compared to fish stock assessments under the Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review process. Unlike fish stocks, marine mammal assessments lack a standardized peer review process. As one SSC member noted, “Assessments of sea turtles undergo extensive review, including input from SSC members, but marine mammal assessments are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny. This inconsistency raises important questions about the reliability and transparency of the data.”

With new ESA and MMPA regulations on the horizon, including critical habitat designations for corals and green sea turtles and the proposed listing of giant clams, the SSC discussed the potential challenges these changes could present to fishing communities and ongoing projects of territorial governments. The committee also expressed concerns about declining observer coverage and the shift toward electronic monitoring, which may impact data collection used for serious injury and mortality estimates.

SSC Strategic Planning

As part of their ongoing commitment to the MSA process, SSC members discussed ways to improve their statutory advisory role. The committee is evaluating its processes to ensure it provides effective and relevant advice to the Council. This effort includes planning eight special projects for 2025, focusing on both the science and social dimensions of fisheries management. An overarching theme was the integration of community needs with the best available scientific information.

One focus area is determining whether bottomfish should be managed within a complex or if indicator species would offer a more practical alternative. The committee is also working to integrate social, ecological, economic and environmental considerations into its recommendations.

The SSC is also exploring alternative methods to assess the risks fisheries pose to protected species, as well as continuing to evaluate the potential impacts of large closed areas on fisheries across the region. Progress on these special projects will be reported at SSC meetings scheduled for June, September and December.

The SSC meeting agenda and documents can be found atwww.wpcouncil.org/event/155ssc-meeting. The SSC provides advice to the Council, which will meet March 25-27, 2025, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, www.wpcouncil.org/event/202nd-council-meeting.

Scientific and Statistical Committee: James Lynch (chair); Debra Cabrera (University of Guam); Frank Camacho (University of Guam); Courtney Carothers (University of Alaska Fairbanks); Milani Chaloupka (University of Queensland); Cathy Dichmont (Cathy Dichmont Consulting); Erik Franklin (University of Hawai‘i); Shelton Harley (Fisheries Consultant); Jason Helyer (Hawai‘i Div. of Aquatic Resources); Ray Hilborn (University of Washington); Alister Hunt (Finology); Dave Itano (Fisheries Consultant); Keena Leon Guerrero (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Div. of Fish & Wildlife); Domingo Ochavillo (American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources); Graham Pilling (The Pacific Community); Jim Roberts (Anemone Consulting); Justin Suca (University of Hawai‘i); Robin Waples (University of Washington); Charles Littnan (ex-officio) (National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center).