Saving Seafood

Council Receives Praise, Spars with NMFS on Policies

September 26, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Praise from a top federal administrator combined with an airing of interagency issues energized the second session of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s 200th meeting Tuesday.

 

Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), opened the session by complimenting the Council for its achievements.

 “This Council doesn’t get enough credit for leadership in the region and the example it has set nationally and internationally; things done here echo throughout the world,” said Rauch. 

 “To name a few,” Rauch continued, “the Council prohibited destructive gears, explosives, poisons; implemented measures on drift gillnets before the drift gillnet act; created areas where industry can thrive and at the same time reduce impacts to protected species; and crafted gear measures with industry that are models for the rest of the world—circle hooks, wire leaders and vessel monitoring systems (VMS).”

The Council welcomed Rauch’s comments, though much of the session focused on policy and procedural disagreements between the Council and NMFS.

 Council members expressed frustration with the proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listing of giant clams in the U.S. Pacific Territories. NMFS initiated a status review in 2017 in response to a petition to list 10 species of giant clams under the ESA, but published the proposed rule in July 2024, opening the proposal for a 90-day public comment period. NMFS presenter John Rippe said that for giant clams in general, quantitative data and survey data is very limited. 

Council member Sylvian Igisomar questioned if NMFS had considered unpopulated as well as populated areas when gathering information about the giant clams’ spatial distribution.

“I feel NMFS is just ramming this through the system,” said Igisomar, Secretary of the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources. “Some of these species shouldn’t have been [proposed]—just because you can’t access an area, doesn’t mean the clams are not there.”

The Council reiterated its request for NMFS to engage early with local agencies and communities, and to collaborate with the governments of American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI. The members emphasized the importance of working proactively with the U.S. Pacific Territories before considering ESA listings and critical habitat designations.

Council member Chelsa Muña questioned NMFS’s listing of giant clam species as endangered in regions like Guam and the CNMI where those species haven’t been present for many years. “We are working with Palau to reintroduce the species. It’s disconcerting to see the ones that don’t occur in the Marianas on the list since they’re not part of the natural habitat. You will be restricting our ability to repopulate the area,” Muña emphasized.

Members noted that from past experience with other ESA-listed species like turtles, once giant clams are listed, it is difficult to delist them later. Muña said, “If climate change is included as one of the threats, then there is nothing we can really do to change that impact.” 

Muña, director of the Guam Department of Agriculture, added this would affect attempts to recover the species, as is the case with several species of corals. “Outplantings require permits, and you can’t outplant corals that are endangered because you have to harvest,” she noted.

 Rippe explained that under the ESA, the United States is required to list species based on their status throughout their entire range, not just in certain areas. Though some giant clam species in question don’t occur in the Mariana Archipelago, they exist elsewhere in their range, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Philippines and Indonesia, which justifies the listing. 

 American Samoa Council member Archie Soliai added, “For the whole session we heard on ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act issues, what sticks out the most is ‘restrict, control and prohibit.’ Giant clams are important to our culture, and this inhibits our food security.”

 The Council asked NMFS to extend the public comment period to allow more time for agency outreach to affected communities and for community members to comment. It also asked that NMFS work with governments of American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI to review data supporting proposed rules and their socioeconomic and cultural impacts.

 The Council sessions at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom will conclude Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Land Acknowledgement Highlights Indigenous Roots and Equity at Western Pacific Council’s 200th Meeting

September 25, 2024 — Themes of cultural recognition, indigenous legacies and ocean security sparked the opening of the 200th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council here Monday.

Chair Will Sword opened the historic session with a prayer in Samoan reminding members of their mission as servants entrusted with maximizing the use of spiritual gifts. “The Council’s acknowledgement of the place and people continues its commitment to incorporating indigenous knowledge into fisheries management for the region,” Sword added.

Shae Kamaka‘ala, Chair of the Council’s Indigenous Rights Committee, welcomed members in recognizing that the region encompassing the Council’s jurisdiction has indigenous, ancestral caretakers and pays respect to these longstanding cultural roots. Her remarks included a statement that “Hawai‘i remains an illegally occupied state of the United States government.”

“It is important for the Council to make a conscious effort to ensure equity in our work and recognize the existence and sovereignty of the indigenous people of the Western Pacific,” commented Kitty Simonds, Council Executive Director.

The Council welcomed Rear Admiral Sean Regan, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District 14, whose career includes service at the White House as Director of Maritime Security Policy, Arctic Region, on the President’s National Security Staff (NSS); advisor to the National Security Advisor, Homeland Security Advisor and the President. The Admiral said he appreciated the response the USCG has received from the people in the region and that he was favorably impressed by the Council’s work in protecting fisheries. 

Admiral Regan emphasized the USCG’s mission is to “protect those who serve on the sea, protect against threats emanating from the sea and protect the sea itself.” 

Captain Jennifer Conklin described the USCG’s “Operation Blue Pacific,” underscoring its role as a persistent presence of the U.S. government as a trusted partner in enhancing the safety, security and prosperity of the region.

  

During the meeting, Nate Ilaoa from American Samoa complained that the USCG’s response to American Samoa has not been sufficient. He said that the Deeds of Cession grants powers to the United States, but also requires protections. He requested the USCG to protect American Samoa from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and foreign incursions and said the territory’s citizens deserve better.

The Council recommended collaboration with USCG to develop a plan for providing assets and resources to the territory, while also making certification courses more accessible to its citizens.

 

Action Items

The Council approved a 493,000-pound annual catch limit (ACL) for the deep-seven bottomfish complex in the main Hawaiian Islands for fishing years 2024-2025 to 2026-2027. Catch limits are determined by subtracting the overfishing limit plus scientific uncertainty factors from the acceptable biological catch, then further adjusting for SEEM (Social, Economic, Ecological and Management) variables.

 

In 2019, the Guam bottomfish fishery was declared overfished, which required the Council to rebuild the stock, per the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Council developed a rebuilding plan that set an ACL of 31,000 pounds, with in-season monitoring that would close the fishery if the limit is exceeded. A stock assessment update presented in June 2024 found that while Guam has not overfished, it also has not met the rebuilding threshold.

The Council recommended increasing the rebuilding plan ACL to 34,500 pounds, allowing for continued fishing while seeking to ensure the stock is rebuilt by 2031. This option would also apply a three-year catch-averaging formula that would result in reducing subsequent catch limits by the average amount overfished. 

The Council meeting will continue daily at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom through Wednesday September 25.

Pacific Island Voices Call for Balance in Conservation and Fisheries Management at AFS Annual Meeting

September 23, 2024 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council was well-represented at the 154th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), held Sept. 15-19, 2024 in Honolulu. The theme was “Conserving Fishes and Fishing Traditions through Knowledge Co-Production.”

Council members and advisors participated in a session on “Large Blue-Water Marine Protected Areas: Benefits and Costs,” which drew around 70 attendees. Dr. Ray Hilborn, a member of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), chaired the session and provided a talk evaluating impacts the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) has had on yellowfin and bigeye tuna stocks and resulting catch rates. Hilborn countered an October 2022 paper that claimed the 2016 expansion of PMNM had ‘spillover benefits’ for tuna fisheries, arguing that increased tuna catch rates were due to a pre-existing rise in tuna biomass, not the expansion. “Considering how little yellowfin tuna was caught in the Monument Expansion Area, it is just biologically impossible to attribute catch rate increases to the expansion without considering broader regional dynamics,” Hilborn explained.

Presentations from Council members and advisors Will Sword, Archie Soliai, John Gourley, Eric Kingma and Nate Ilaoa highlighted the impact of Marine National Monuments on Pacific Island communities. They raised concerns about expanding large closed areas in U.S. Pacific waters. American Samoa Advisory Panel member Ilaoa likened the push to close more waters to colonialism, arguing that Pacific Islanders are being forced to meet the national ‘30 by 30’ goal—protecting 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030—at great cost to their local economies.

A proposed designation of the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) as a National Marine Sanctuary could potentially shut down tuna fishing in the remaining open waters 50 to 200 nautical miles seaward of Palmyra and Howland/Baker Atolls. Tuna-rich U.S. waters around Jarvis, Johnston and Wake Islands are already closed to fishing. Hilborn noted that none of the tuna species are at risk of overfishing and recent studies concluded closures in nearby Kiribati had zero conservation benefit. Soliai, Council vice chair from American Samoa, pointed out that “Pacific Islanders already carry the disproportionate burden of this 30 by 30 initiative, because 90% of this goal is already in our waters.”

Ilaoa and Soliai stressed that the economy of American Samoa relies heavily on the tuna industry, which provides thousands of jobs and sustains the territory’s shrinking population. The territory’s last remaining tuna cannery depends on a steady supply of U.S.-caught fish and helps subsidize shipping for most goods, keeping costs affordable for residents. Closing more waters to U.S.-flagged vessels could devastate the local economy, as international agreements already limit their access to the high seas. The United States has also not distinguished an American Samoa purse seine fishery, which could add some relief to international restrictions.

“They are shoving this down our brown throats,” said Ilaoa. “This Administration seems willing to destroy our American Samoa tuna industry, crippling our already struggling economy, just to look good to some people on the mainland thinking they’re protecting something.”

As the lead keynote speaker at the plenary, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa faculty Kawika Winter, said, “We don’t need more marine protected areas, we need more marine RESPECTED areas.”

Council advisors and staff also participated in other symposia, sharing insights on incorporating social, economic and ecological knowledge into management, engaging fishing communities in science and management, and undergraduate fisheries curriculum. Meeting attendees gave presentations, joined discussion panels and promoted the Council’s work through an exhibit.

Fishery Council Celebrates 200th Meeting Milestone

September 20, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: 

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is set to hold its 200th meeting next week, a significant milestone in its 48-year history. The meeting will take place September 23-25, 2024, at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom.

The meeting will feature insights from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS):

  • Rear Admiral Sean Regan, 14th Coast Guard District, Department of Homeland Security
  • Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, NMFS/NOAA, Department of Commerce

On Monday, RADM Regan and staff will present the Coast Guard’s Pacific Blue Mission and other issues central to maintaining security and sustainability in the U.S. Pacific region. On Tuesday, Eric Kingma, Executive Director of the Hawaii Longline Association, will present a check to NMFS, aimed at supporting fisheries development in the U.S. Pacific Territories— investing in capacity building in our region. Sam Rauch will share updates on national and international fisheries priorities, and the successes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to sustainably manage fisheries. No fish stocks are overfished in the Western Pacific Region, except striped marlin due to international fishing pressure, and very few others on the U.S. continent and the Caribbean.

Council Chair Will Sword said, “I’m proud of the Council’s accomplishments throughout the years, achieving many of our conservation goals through sustainable management of the region’s large and small fisheries. We have met the challenges of mitigating protected species interactions, growing capacity in our communities and supporting the continuation of cultural values and management through the melding of Western and indigenous methods. We face many challenges, particularly the changing of the world’s climate, which will be devastating to our islands, and we will confront them with the support of our extensive array of advisors and our government.”

Action Items

The Council will make decisions affecting the future of regional fisheries, including specifying catch limits for bottomfish stocks in the main Hawaiian Islands and Guam, and striped marlin in the Western and Central North Pacific. These discussions will consider scientific data, stock status, economic and ecological impacts, as well as input from advisory bodies, when making decisions and recommendations.

Global Seafood Trade and Policy Discussions

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of ongoing discussions about the seafood trade, labeling and foreign competition, including hearing updates from Council meetings with the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Council members and industry advisors met with several federal agencies and a non-governmental organization to discuss strategies to address unfair foreign practices affecting Pacific tuna fisheries. Participants addressed the importance of the United States enforcing seafood regulations, such as Marine Mammal Protection Act import provisions, as well as the need for clear product origin labeling to better inform consumers.

Join us in celebrating 48 years of progress either in-person or online via Webex (https://tinyurl.com/200CouncilMtg). The complete agenda and meeting documents are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/200th-council-meeting. Opportunities to make public comments on agenda items are provided throughout the meetin

SSC Advances Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan and Evaluates Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Techniques

September 16, 2024 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

At its meeting this week, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed and discussed options for modifying Guam’s bottomfish rebuilding plan, focusing on balancing sustainable fishing opportunities with stock recovery goals. 

In 2019, the Guam bottomfish fishery was declared overfished, which requires the Council to rebuild the Guam bottomfish stock, per the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Council developed a rebuilding plan that set an annual catch limit (ACL) of 31,000 pounds, with in-season monitoring that would close the fishery if the limit is exceeded. A stock assessment update presented in June 2024 found that while the Guam bottomfish fishery is not overfished, it has not met the rebuilding threshold.

After evaluating catch projections and accountability measures, the SSC recommended an option which sets ACL of 34,500 pounds, allowing for continued fishing while ensuring the stock is rebuilt by 2031. The SSC noted all ACL options (0; 31,000; or 34,500 pounds) would achieve the rebuilding plan, but the 34,500-pound ACL maximizes fishing opportunities.

“These fisheries are about catching food; we should fulfill the legal requirements while still maximizing catch,” said SSC member Ray Hilborn, University of Washington.

Regarding accountability measures, the SSC did not recommend in-season monitoring because of delays for the creel surveys and catch expansions. SSC member Frank Camacho, University of Guam, said “the juice is not worth the squeeze,” regarding the feasibility of relying on creel surveys.

The SSC recommended a post-season overage adjustment based on a three-year rolling average, preventing overfishing while avoiding premature fishery closures. The SSC also addressed concerns about potential negative impacts of a federal fishing moratorium. This action could drive fishers out of the industry permanently. The SSC highlighted the importance of local management.

The SSC endorsed the results from a July 2024 Guam bottomfish data review panel, and recommends the data be used in the next benchmark stock assessment. This was the first ever review on the data that will go into the stock assessment, incorporating fishermen’s perspectives on the data. The Pacific Islands Fishery Science Center presented the next steps, which are to include fishery-independent survey data and additional life history information in the next stock assessment, expected by 2027. The SSC underscored the need for more detailed data to differentiate inshore and offshore fishing, noting possible shifts in species targeted over time. 

Hawai‘i Longline Seabird Mitigation Measure Experiment

The SSC reviewed the results of a seabird bycatch mitigation study that indicated albatrosses were significantly more likely to interact with Hawai‘i shallow-set longline gear on paired tori (bird scaring) lines deployed partially during the day compared to night sets with blue-dyed bait. 

In 2021, the Council recommended a pilot study be conducted to develop appropriate seabird mitigation measures for the Hawai‘i-based shallow-set fishery that targets swordfish. The goal was to find a combination of mitigation measures that would be as effective at deterring seabirds during dusk as the current suite of night-setting strategies. 

The SSC recommended the lightweight short-streamer tori line, as used in the experiment, not be included as an approved mitigation measure for the Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery. This design was shown to be effective in the deep-set fishery, and is now part of its suite of required measures. However, the shallow-set fishery operates in areas with windier conditions and higher seabird encounter rates, likely making the design less effective. 

Since 2004, the Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery has been required to set their gear at night and use blue-dyed fish bait. Prior to this, fishermen adjusted their setting time around the sunset hours according to the moon phase, which affects swordfish vertical migration patterns. Following the successful trials conducted in the Hawai‘i deep-set fishery, shallow-set fishermen expressed interest in testing tori lines as a potential mitigation tool, aiming to increase operational flexibility by allowing gear setting to begin during sunset hours. 

The SSC endorsed the next steps from the project report and recommended the Council consider additional experiments for alternative seabird measures for this fishery. These experiments may include evaluating the effectiveness of night setting with and without blue-dyed bait to determine if it may be removed from the mitigation measures, or testing hook-shielding devices to enable partial daytime setting.

 

Scientific and Statistical Committee: James Lynch (chair); Jason Biggs (Guam Div. of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources); Debra Cabrera (University of Guam); Frank Camacho (University of Guam); Milani Chaloupka (University of Queensland); Erik Franklin (University of Hawai‘i, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology); Shelton Harley (Fisheries Consultant); Jason Helyer (Hawai‘i Div. of Aquatic Resources); Ray Hilborn (University of Washington); Justin Hospital (National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS PIFSC); Dave Itano (Fisheries Consultant); Donald Kobayashi (NMFS PIFSC); Steve Martell (Sea State Inc.); Domingo Ochavillo (American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources); Graham Pilling (The Pacific Community); Craig Severance (University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, retired); Charles Littnan (ex-officio) (NMFS PIFSC).

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: Secretary of Commerce appointees from nominees selected by American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam and Hawai‘i governors: Will Sword, noncommercial fisherman/engineer (American Samoa) (chair); Roger Dang, Fresh Island Fish Co. (Hawai‘i) (vice chair); Judith Guthertz, University of Guam (Guam) (vice chair); Pete Itibus, noncommercial fisher (CNMI); Shaelene Kamaka‘ala, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (Hawai‘i); Frank Perez, AC Sales and Service, (Guam); Matt Ramsey, Conservation International (Hawai‘i); and Gene Weaver, Tasi to Table (CNMI). Designated state officials: Dawn Chang, Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources; Sylvan Igisomar, CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural Resources (vice chair); Chelsa Muña, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; and Archie Soliai, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources (vice chair). Designated federal officials (voting): Sarah Malloy, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. Designated federal officials (nonvoting): Colin Brinkman, U.S. State Dept.; Brian Peck, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and RADM Sean Regan, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District.

WestPac’s statistics council addresses issues affecting Pacific fisheries management

September 10, 2024 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) is set to convene this week, Sept. 11-13, 2024, to address issues impacting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands.

Specifically of interest to American Samoa is the Annual Research Prioritization where the SSC will identify priorities for 2025 from the adopted 2025-2029 Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act research priorities. The list may be ranked in order of importance to inform regional National Marine Fisheries Service research activities for next year.

And, in light of recent stock assessment projections, the SSC will review potential rebuilding scenarios for striped marlin to inform the U.S. delegation at the upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting. The aim is to meet WCPFC targets of rebuilding the stock to 20% of unfished biomass by 2034.

Read the full article at Samoa News

SSC Meeting to Tackle Key Fisheries Management Issues Next Week

September 6, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene Sept. 11-13, 2024, to address important issues impacting fisheries management in the Pacific Islands.

Noncommercial Fisheries Data Updates: The SSC will evaluate improvements to the Hawai‘i Marine Recreational Fishing Survey and review its potential use in stock assessments, annual catch limits and monitoring efforts. Presentations will cover the latest data improvements, feedback from a recent fishermen’s workshop and the potential to use the data in annual reports.

Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan: A new stock assessment update presented in June 2024 found that while the Guam bottomfish fishery is not overfished, it has not met rebuilding criteria. The SSC may provide recommendations on modifications to the rebuilding plan and review projections to rebuild the stock by 2031, in alignment with the Mariana Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan.

Guam Bottomfish Data for Future Assessments: The SSC will consider the Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review report on Guam bottomfish data and discuss how this data may be used in future stock assessments, including single-species and multi-model assessments.

Hawai‘i Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Tori Line Experiment: The SSC will review results from an experimental fishing project that tested tori (bird scaring) lines as a seabird bycatch mitigation measure. This pilot study was designed to explore an alternative combination of seabird mitigation techniques that could allow for more flexible fishing hours during dusk compared to the current night-setting requirements.

False Killer Whale Interaction Analysis: The SSC will review an analysis of foreign fleet impacts on false killer whale populations and may provide advice on managing interactions in Hawai‘i’s deep-set longline fishery.

Striped Marlin Rebuilding Plan: In light of recent stock assessment projections, the SSC will review potential rebuilding scenarios for striped marlin to inform the U.S. delegation at the upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting. The aim is to meet WCPFC targets of rebuilding the stock to 20% of unfished biomass by 2034.

Annual Research Prioritization: The SSC will identify priorities for 2025 from the adopted 2025-2029 Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act research priorities. The list may be ranked in order of importance to inform regional National Marine Fisheries Service research activities for next year.

The SSC meeting is open to in-person or remote participation via web conference for attendees. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/153ssc-meeting.

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council calls out foreign tuna dumping

July 1, 2024 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council expressed concern over foreign tuna dumping in its latest meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, warning that foreign competition is harming both producers and consumers.

“If our fishermen can’t compete, fish, sustain a profit, and provide protein for our communities, not only do we lose food security in American Samoa, but our economy dies,” Council Chair Taulapapa William Sword said.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Fishery management council: Lack of consultation shows ‘disrespect’

July 1, 2024 — Members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council are dismayed over the continued lack of federal government consultation with U.S. territories on the Endangered Species Act, including matters involving green sea turtles, giant clams and oceanic whitetip sharks, the council said in a press release.

“The lack of consultation with the governors of the U.S. territories for federal initiatives shows disrespect – the governors are our leaders, and we look to them for guidance,” Guam Council member Judith Guthertz stated in the release.

She expressed frustration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not responding to October 2023 letters from U.S. Pacific territorial governors, which requested an extension to the comment period for a proposed designation of green sea turtle critical habitat, the council said in the release.

Read the full article at The Guam Daily Post

Federal Consultation with Governors of US Territories Lacking

June 27, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council members expressed dismay with the continued problem of the lack of federal government consultation with territorial governments on Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues, including green sea turtles, giant clams and oceanic whitetip sharks. 

“The lack of consultation with the governors of the U.S. territories for federal initiatives shows disrespect—the Governors are our leaders and we look to them for guidance.” Guam Council member Judith Guthertz, former president of the University of Guam, expressed frustration with NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) not responding to the October 2023 letters from the U.S. Pacific Territorial Governors. These letters requested an extension of the comment period on the proposed designation of green sea turtle critical habitat. Affected communities need additional time to review the 800 pages of proposed rules and accompanying documentation.

Guthertz continued, “I teach values, governance and public administration at the University of Guam, but it is becoming harder for me to make the case to my students that we are valued by the U.S. government.”

The Council requested NOAA and USFWS to work with American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) governments to review the information underlying the proposed green sea turtle critical habitat designation before publishing the final rule.

With the lack of communication on the pending response to the giant clam ESA listing petition, Chelsea Muña, Guam Department of Agriculture director, said “[the rule] isn’t going to affect other countries, it affects us.” The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a petition in 2016 to list 10 species of giant clams under the ESA, and announced in 2017 that seven of the 10 would undergo a full status review to determine if a listing was warranted. The findings are expected to be published in the coming weeks, but have not been communicated to the territorial agencies.

Pacific Islands communities, including U.S. island areas of American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI, have long-standing traditions of utilizing giant clams. Muña described giant clam aquaculture programs in Guam, which are set up as community-based management that helps empower the community to take responsibility and ownership. The Council requested NMFS to coordinate with the American Samoa, Guam and CNMI governments to review the information used in the giant clam status review before publishing the ESA-listing petition 12-month finding.

The Council also urged NMFS to hold public hearings and extend the public comment period on a proposed rule published in May 2024 to prohibit “take” of threatened oceanic whitetip shark, with limited exceptions for research and enforcement activities. The public comment period closes July 15, 2024. Take under the ESA is defined as “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct,” and includes accidental hookings or entanglements in commercial or recreational fisheries.

The Council discussed hardships in sustaining American Samoa’s tuna economy. Restrictions on using imported frozen cooked tuna loins for duty-free canned tuna production is a disproportionate burden on the purse seiners homeported in Pago Pago. To alleviate this, the Council is seeking increased tariffs on imported tuna products, allowing American Samoa duty-free access to the U.S. market for locally produced canned tuna, closing tariff loopholes and developing funding programs to boost local fish catches. In 2022, purse seine and longline vessels landed 170 million pounds at the port of Pago Pago worth $108 million that supports the local economy.

Annual SAFE Report for Open Ocean Fisheries
Council members heard a detailed update on the 2023 performance of pelagic federal fisheries in the U.S. Pacific Islands from the Council’s annual Stock Assessment and Fisheries Evaluation (SAFE) report. In the Hawai‘i longline fishery and other open ocean fisheries across the region, yellowfin tuna landings increased significantly, while other tuna species like albacore, skipjack and bigeye showed mixed trends.

The Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery that targets tuna caught 25.7 million pounds, with a total ex-vessel revenue of $100.5 million, while the shallow-set longline fishery that targets swordfish caught 1.6 million pounds, resulting in $6.8 million.

Electronic Monitoring in Hawai‘i Longline Fisheries
Last September, the Council endorsed the development of an electronic monitoring (EM) pre-implementation plan aiming to enhance the sustainability and oversight of Hawai‘i longline fisheries. The primary objective of this EM program is to monitor protected species.

At the meeting, the Council recommended further exploration of regulatory considerations to utilize EM to complement or fulfill data collection requirements as currently implemented by federal observers. This includes conducting a cost/benefit analysis, reviewing existing observer and logbook programs, and evaluating the relationship between EM and human observer coverage. With annual costs of at least $2.4 million, $15 million is needed to begin the program.

The next Council meeting will be in September 2024. Check the Council website for updates.