Saving Seafood

Fishing Industry Members Advise Managers on Proposed Sanctuaries and Other Issues Important to Western Pacific Region

March 11, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) met today to provide advice and recommendations to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council when it meets March 22-24.

NWHI and Marianas Trench Proposed Sanctuaries

The FIAC recommended the Council develop fishing regulations for the proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands sanctuary that would allow fishing to continue in as much of the sanctuary as possible. The Committee also asked NMFS to clearly identify spatial boundaries in the fishery compliance guides that include monuments and sanctuaries so fishermen clearly understand where fishing is/is not allowed. Commercial fisherman Kenton Greer expressed his concern with extending the proposed sanctuary boundaries to Middle Bank, as it is an important area for Kauai fishermen.

Regarding the potential development of a national marine sanctuary in the Northern Mariana Islands, the FIAC recommended the Council keep the fishing community informed since it would overlay the existing marine national monument and may expand fishing area closures.

Roundtable Discussion

FIAC members provided updates on the status of the fishing, seafood and related industries, continuing and upcoming issues and changes that may impact the community. “The market has rebounded in 2022 with the stability that comes from restaurants reopening and more consistent airline flights, supporting up to 20,000 pounds a day of swordfish,” said Michael Goto, FIAC chair and United Fishing Agency auction manager. Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) Executive Director Eric Kingma noted, “there was a significantly lower bigeye tuna catch rate in 2021, 40% less than the historical high in 2015 when catch was 20 million pounds landed.”

WCPFC Pacific Strategy

The FIAC endorsed the new Pacific strategy developed to address Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) issues through a more holistic approach, tying the prosperity of U.S. fisheries in the Pacific with broader geopolitical interests of the nation. Council staff and advisers have developed an information paper that emphasizes the importance of fisheries to the Pacific Islands community and their strategic importance to U.S. national interests.

“There needs to be a better way to negotiate – the relationship between the United States and small island nations has not been strong lately,” said American Samoa fishing vessel owner Stuart Chikami. “There have been recurring issues with compliance, and the Commission has been more focused on economics of a few members, rather than its intended objectives.”

The FIAC recommended U.S. advisors to the WCPFC address this strategy at their next series of meetings and work in coordination with longline and purse seine fishing industries.

During the public discussion, American Samoa Dept. of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director Archie Soliai acknowledged the longline (HLA) and purse seine (American Tunaboat Association) vessel owners for supporting the territory, noting it owes a great debt to these industries.

Equity and Environmental Justice

FIAC members recommended that the Council approve the draft Western Pacific Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Planning Framework. The members agreed that marine national monument designations are disproportionately situated in the Western Pacific, amplifying economic impact to our region. The Council is soliciting community feedback to plan meaningful remedies in lieu of the federal government’s EEJ priorities. The Biden Administration is prioritizing addressing inequities for underserved communities, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, with a “whole of government” approach.

The FIAC is one of three advisory bodies to the Council required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act that provides input and recommendations on management and conservation actions from an industry perspective. Members include representatives from Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam in industry-related sectors such as fishing, seafood processing, distribution and marketing industries, fishing tackle and marine service and supply providers.

Recommendations made by the FIAC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets March 22-24, 2022, virtually, with host sites at Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatña, Guam. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at https://www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates.

Fishing Industry Advisory Committee: Michael Goto (United Fishing Agency) (chair), Stuart Chikami (Western Pacific Fisheries), Kenton Greer (commercial fisherman); Vince Haleck (Tautai O Samoa Association); Jonathan Hurd (Malolo Adventures); John Kaneko (Hawaii Seafood Council); Eric Kingma (Hawaii Longline Association); Michael Lee (Garden & Valley Isle Seafood); Sean Martin (POP Fishing and Marine); Baron Miho (Annasea Hawaii); Lino Sablan Tenorio (Tenorio & Associates); Josh Schade (Ahi Assassins); Kerry Umamoto (Hilo Fish Company); Mike Yonemura (Diamond Head Seafood Wholesale).

 

Interior, Commerce Departments Seek Comments in Marine Monuments Review

May 8, 2017 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The Department of the Interior announced Friday the public would be allowed to weigh in on several monument designations made under the Antiquities Act — including several marine monuments.

The Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Interior, will review public comments related to marine monuments, all but one of which are in the Pacific Ocean. This action is related to President Trump’s executive order 13795, relating to offshore energy and monuments review.

The marine monuments slated for review include:

  • Marianas Trench, listed in 2009, at 61 million acres, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands/Pacific Ocean;
  • Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, listed in 2016 at 3.1 million acres, in Atlantic Ocean;
  • Pacific Remote Islands, listed in 2009 at 56 million acres;
  • Papahanaumokuakea, listed in 2006 and expanded in 2016 at 89.6 million acres, in Hawaii/Pacific Ocean; and
  • Rose Atoll, listed in 2009 at 8.6 million acres, in American Samoa/Pacific Ocean.

A public comment period is not required for monument designations under the Antiquities Act; however, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and President Trump both strongly believe that local input is a critical component of federal land management, Zinke said in a press release Friday.

“The Department of the Interior is the steward of America’s greatest treasures and the manager of one-fifth of our land. Part of being a good steward is being a good neighbor and listening to the American people who we represent,” Zinke said in the statement. “Today’s action, initiating a formal public comment process finally gives a voice to local communities and states when it comes to Antiquities Act monument designations. There is no pre-determined outcome on any monument. I look forward to hearing from and engaging with local communities and stakeholders as this process continues.”

In making the requisite determinations, the secretary is directed to consider the requirements and original objectives of the Antiquities Act, including the size of the monument; whether the areas are appropriately classified as landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures or other objects of historic or scientific interest; the effects of a designation on the available uses of the areas; the effects of designation on the use and enjoyment of non-federal lands within or beyond the monument boundaries; the concerns of state, tribal and local governments, including the economic development of affected states, tribes and localities; and the ability of federal resources to properly manage designated areas.

Comments may be submitted online after May 12 at http://www.regulations.gov by entering “DOI-2017-0002” in the Search bar and clicking “Search,” or by mail to Monument Review, MS-1530, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.