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.