Saving Seafood

Existing Fishing Rules Sufficient for Proposed PRI Sanctuary Says Western Pacific Council

December 12, 2023 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council yesterday emphasized its solid position on fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) National Marine Sanctuary. The Council determined the existing fishing regulations under the current structure meet the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary and recommended to NOAA that additional fishing regulations are not necessary.

The Council’s existing regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) established comprehensive protection since the 1980s and continues to provide long-lasting conservation and management for the PRI fishery ecosystem, habitat and resources.1 Pelagic fisheries in the PRI are vital to the economy and culture of American Samoa, as well as other pelagic fisheries including the Hawai‘i longline fishery.

“We know that the impacts to those fisheries would be devastating to Fa‘a Samoa [the Samoan way of life],” said Council Chair Will Sword. The economic analysis conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center shows a direct correlation to these benefits.2 A reduction in fish landings due to restricted access will result in reduced economic benefits.

Archie Soliai, Council vice chair for American Samoa, stressed that the MSA National Standards require the Council to manage for optimum yield, best scientific information available, and avoid unnecessary duplication. He said, “There is nothing optimum about closing the entire exclusive economic zone to fishing by adding additional layers of bureaucracy, when the best science says there is no impact to the stock.”

Council members expressed their frustration with the sanctuary designation process, and the difficulties in making a decision when there was insufficient clarity. “I think there is a misunderstanding that all of the fisheries in this area are not already protected,” said Roger Dang, Council vice chair for Hawai‘i. “Is there a need for more regulations when the current management under the MSA already aligns with the proposed sanctuary’s goals?”

The Council’s Pacific Remote Island Areas and Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plans comprehensively conserve and manage these fisheries, the marine biodiversity, and ecosystem services they provide. These management plans have been in place for decades to prevent negative impacts to fish stocks, habitat, bycatch and protected species.

The Council will send its decision to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries by Dec. 20, 2023, and will provide the final document with the analysis, rationale and justification for the determination by Jan. 19, 2024.

 

Western Pacific Council to Address Final Fishing Regulation Recommendations for Proposed US Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary

December 8, 2023 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet next week to discuss its final recommendations for fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary (PRINMS). At its last meeting in September, Council members initially found that existing regulations may already meet the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary. This decision was based on a recommendation from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) after a thorough review of existing rules and regulations in the Council PRI Fishery Ecosystem Plan and available data from NOAA.

For commercial fishing on pelagic stocks, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) presented data indicating that fishing in the PRI has a minimal impact on tuna stocks. The catch in the PRI accounts for less than 1% of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for skipjack and yellowfin tuna and only 3.5% of the MSY for bigeye tuna. More importantly, these tuna stocks are neither overfished nor subject to overfishing.

Last week, the SSC discussed at its meeting a NOAA PIFSC report on the Economic Contributions of U.S. Commercial Fisheries in American Samoa that documents hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs that are directly or indirectly supported by the industry. The Committee found no scientific evidence to support additional fishing rules in the proposed sanctuary and cautioned against causing unintended negative impacts on the U.S. fleet and the underserved community of American Samoa.

The existing Council decision-making process under the Magnuson-Stevens Act allows for shared stewardship with state and territorial partners, as well as domestic and international partnerships in managing highly migratory pelagic fish species such as Pacific tunas. The Council has been in the forefront of engaging with indigenous and traditional communities in American Samoa, Hawai‘i, Guam and the CNMI to utilize traditional knowledge in modern management practices.

The Council has long implemented enduring and comprehensive fishing regulations in the Western Pacific, such as a region-wide total prohibition on ‘destructive’ gears in 1986 to protect habitat, vulnerable species and biodiversity.

The Council will discuss and may take action on annual catch limits for the American Samoa bottomfish fishery for 2024-2026, a revision to the Hawai‘i Fishery Ecosystem Plan regarding the essential fish habitat designation for gray jobfish (uku), and bigeye tuna catch limits and allocation for the U.S. Pacific Territories.

The Council meets next week virtually Dec. 12-13, 2023, with host sites at 1164 Bishop St., Ste. 1400, Honolulu, HI; Tedi of Samoa Bldg. Ste. 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam; BRI Bldg. Ste. 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/event/197th-council-meeting.