March 29, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
In a critical call to action, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to address severe funding shortfalls that threaten the future of fisheries management and vital capacity-building programs across the Pacific Islands. With fishery resources and local economies at risk, the Council is requesting immediate increases in funding allocations to regional fishery management councils from the DOC, NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. These increases are necessary to safeguard the region’s marine environment and fishing communities.
Council members had grave concerns about budget reductions, particularly for the Council’s scholarship program, which supports university students from American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). “Funding is critical to developing young professionals who return to our islands to strengthen fisheries management,” said Council member Archie Soliai. “Without support, the future of our fisheries is at stake.”
Since its inauguration in 2015, the Council’s U.S. Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarship program has supported students from American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI. Scholarship recipients commit to working in their local fishery management agency for every year of funding they receive. Funds have come from the Council, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Funds.
Representative Trude Ledoux-Sunia from the American Samoa Fono (legislature), thanked the Council for its hard work in fighting for the fisheries and economic stability of the territory. However, she expressed disappointment in the loss of funding as it would have a huge impact on developing the next generation of fishing scientists and managers.
Fishing Regulations for the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary
On Jan. 27, 2025, the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office notified the Council that the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary’s final rule and regulations were inconsistent with the Council’s recommendations for fishing regulations. On March 24, 2025, NOAA announced a review of the final rule for consistency with the Administration’s policies and Executive Orders, including EO 14219, “Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative.”
The Council will seek clarification from the Secretary of Commerce on the consistency of its proposed fishing regulation with the Administration’s policies and EOs, to inform its decision to reconsider those recommendations.
Impact of Executive Order on Pacific Aid and Fisheries
Council members were apprehensive about the unintended consequences of withholding or delaying aid to neighboring Pacific Island countries. EO 14169, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” directs federal agencies to ensure all aid promotes U.S. security and prosperity. The United States had pledged $60 million annually for economic assistance to Pacific Island countries as part of the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which allows U.S. tuna purse seiners to purchase fishing days in the national waters of these countries.
“We are worried that withholding assistance to Pacific Island countries could jeopardize fishing arrangements and, ultimately, the viability of the U.S. fishery that supports American Samoa’s economy,” said Soliai. The Council will work with federal agencies to assess potential impacts of EO 14169 on existing international fishing treaties and arrangements.
The Council also recommended revising the list of managed American Samoa bottomfish species from 13 to six species of deepwater snappers to focus on deepwater species that have enough data for stock assessments and annual catch limits (ACLs). The remaining seven will be reclassified as ecosystem component species that will be monitored but not directly managed through ACLs.
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