Saving Seafood

Western Pacific Fishermen Losing Last Vestiges of U.S. Waters Open to Fishing; Council Frustrated

June 29, 2022 — Sanctuaries, marine monuments, no-fishing zones — Western Pacific fishermen are trying to hold on to as many areas open for fishing as they can.

Last week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council supported permitting non-commercial fishing and prohibiting commercial fishing in the Monument Expansion Area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, from 50 to 200 nautical miles.

However, Council members were infuriated because continuing to close areas to fishing is an affront to indigenous peoples. Members stressed the importance of continuing indigenous cultures and practices. Guam Council Vice Chair Manny Dueñas noted that permitting fishing perpetuates Hawaiian culture, and does not preserve it in a pickle jar.

“Whether they decide to or not, I want the Hawaiians to have the opportunity to be able to practice their culture,” Duenas said in a press release.

“It is important that we allow Native Hawaiian traditional practices, but minimize the impacts from non-native fishing,” David Sakoda, Council representative for the State of Hawai‘i, added.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Council Concerned With Lack of Support for Western Pacific Fishing Communities

June 22, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

On the first day of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting, members learned that while the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) FY2022 budget increased this year, the Council’s annual request was reduced by $343K. This cut will impact capacity-building efforts, the annual report on the status of fisheries in the region and the protected species program.

Council members were critical of the devaluing of fisheries in the Pacific Islands. Council Chair Taotasi Archie Soliai was concerned that Council programs are being impacted. “NMFS keeps talking about equity and justice, but this is not seen in our islands.”

Soliai continued, “Our economies and cultures depend on the ocean and fishing,” noting the proposed closure of the remaining waters of the Pacific Remote Island Areas north of American Samoa. Governor Mauga of American Samoa asked President Biden not to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, while Governor Ige of Hawai‘i supported the request by the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition (PRIC). “Hawaii has a large, highly developed and diversified economy. American Samoa does not,” said Governor Mauga. “American Samoa is highly dependent on the United States for financial assistance to support our infrastructure, harbors, airports, hospitals, and schools. If our tuna industry collapses, American Samoa will become more dependent on U.S. financial aid.” Links to the governors’ letters can be found here: www.wpcouncil.org/event/191st-council-meeting-virtual.

Manny Dueñas, Council vice chair from Guam, echoed the chair’s comments, noting that the reduction of funding and additional closures are a “personal and major concern to the fishing communities in the islands” and that “in the Marianas, we need to fish to feed our people.”

Council members discussed a delinquent NMFS draft bottomfish fisheries biological opinion (BiOp) that was provided to the Council less than three weeks ago for comments. The publication of the opinion took three years to develop and John Gourley, Council vice chair from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), commented, “fishermen have been waiting for this to be completed to ensure they weren’t adversely affecting the protected species in their area.”

Council members also expressed their frustration with BiOp delays for the Hawai‘i deep-set longline and American Samoa longline fisheries, noting the extended delays create uncertainties that cause anxiety. The Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds reminded the NMFS regional administrator that there is a policy directive that recognizes the Council’s unique role in helping NMFS comply with the Endangered Species Act. The Council remains optimistic that it will have the opportunity to review draft BiOps prior to its next meeting in September.

The Council also requested the U.S. Coast Guard station a fast response cutter in American Samoa to support U.S. coastal security, national and international fishery patrols, search and rescue and national defense. As international fisheries around American Samoa grow, the Council would like to ensure that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing does not encroach into the U.S. exclusive economic zone.

The Council will convene tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22 for the second of its three-day meeting to review and potentially make recommendations on protected species, pelagic and international fisheries, and program planning and research. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing oral public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/191st-council-meeting-virtual

‘Ocean is being closed off to us’: Fishers face threatened traditions due to firing range

May 17, 2021 — Restricting access to Ritidian will mean less food for the community and threaten the island’s customs, according to Guam’s fishers.

They await final approval of a surface danger zone in the area. 

“Fishing, it’s something you develop, you grow into. If you get rid of that, that’s part of our tradition that’s gone, 4,000 years of legacy that’s gone,” said Manny Duenas. “About 90% of the fishermen use Ritidian. The fishermen that fish out there, they feed their communities and their families. At the end of the day, it’s going to adversely affect us.”

Duenas, 63, has been president of the Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association since 1995. He’s been fishing most of his adult life, and was taught the trade by his uncle and others. He said the live-fire training range under construction at Ritidian, and its associated surface danger zone, diminishes fishing.

“We’ve always been known as a seafaring community. Now the ocean is being closed off to us.”

Read the full story at the Pacific Daily News

U.S. Pacific Federal Managers Set Annual Catch Limit to Rebuild Overfished Guam Bottomfish Stock

December 7, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted to adopt a bottomfish annual catch limit (ACL) of 31,000 pounds starting in fishing year 2023 to rebuild the overfished bottomfish stock in Guam. The limit corresponds to a 35-40% risk of overfishing and would allow the stock to replenish in six years. This option poses the least chance of the fishery exceeding the catch limit and extending the rebuilding time. The annual average bottomfish catch over the past several years is about 27,000 pounds. An in-season accountability measure will be implemented to track catch relative to the ACL. Federal waters will be closed to bottomfishing when the ACL is projected to be reached.

Manny Dueñas, president of the Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association (GFCA) and former Council member and chair, provided public comment on the bottomfish data. “Council staff said there were four years that the catch exceeded the ACL,” he noted, referring to data used in the bottomfish assessment and rebuilding plan. “Why didn’t anyone go back and look at this—maybe the ACL is wrong.” The GFCA was the only source of commercial fish dealer data for decades and the hub for the Pacific Islands Fishery Science Center (PIFSC) biosampling program. Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds said that staff will ask PIFSC to address Dueñas’s concerns.

The Council concluded its three-day virtual meeting with the following recommendations on other matters, among others.

Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (MTMNM): The Council recommended delaying the release of the draft MTMNM management plan for public review and comment until the Marianas Trench Monument Advisory Council (MTMAC) is seated and provides input. The 2009 MTMNM Proclamation by President Bush established the MTMAC to “provide advice and recommendations on the development of management plans and management of the monument.” With a draft management plan for the monument due to be released in December 2020, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Council members were concerned that the MTMAC wasn’t able to provide its timely input as required.

“The MTMAC is a critical advisory body, and it needs to be an active participant in the review of the draft management plan,” said CNMI Vice Chair John Gourley. “Conducting a public review without the MTMAC would be a great disservice to the Marianas communities.”

The monument is co-managed by NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the CNMI government.

Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC): The Council endorsed several FIAC recommendations including supporting a Pacific Island-wide seafood promotion program and working with the U.S. Coast Guard and State of Hawaiʻi Harbors Division to review policies on allowing longline vessels to shelter in place during tropical storms and hurricanes, among others. The current regulation requires vessels under 250 gross tons to vacate the harbor during hurricanes. The FIAC provides input and recommendations on management and conservation actions to the Council from an industry perspective.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act: The Council requested the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources and the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources to work with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to further extend deadlines of CARES Act fishery applications, noting that many within the commercial fishing sector were unable to apply during previous application periods.

Council Officers: The following Council members were re-appointed as officers for 2021: Archie Soliai, chair; Howard Dunham, vice chair, American Samoa; Michael Dueñas, vice chair, Guam; John Gourley, vice chair, CNMI; and Edwin Watamura, vice chair, Hawaiʻi.

For the full agenda and background materials on the meeting, go to www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars or contact the Council at info@wpcouncil.org or (808) 522-8220.