Tag Archives: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
WPFMC asks for transparent analysis of proposed marine monument expansion
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on Wednesday agreed to a resolution that asks the U.S. government to address a suite of concerns before acting on the proposed expansion on the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument or MNM in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Council members Suzanne Case, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources chair, and Julie Leialoha, Conservation Council for Hawaii president, voted against the proposal. National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Administrator Michael Tosatto abstained. The resolution requests a “public, transparent, deliberative, documented and science-based process” to address the proposed expansion, which could prohibit fishing in two-thirds of the U.S. exclusive economic zone, i.e., waters out to 200 miles from shore, around Hawaii. The resolution is being sent to President Obama, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the secretaries of Commerce, the Interior and State. Read the rest here 16:47
Enviro’s Complain Top Federal Fisheries Official Shouldn’t Be Meddling In Marine Monument Debate
An environmental group has filed a complaint with federal officials over Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds’ role in orchestrating opposition to the proposed expansion of the marine monument around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Marjorie Ziegler, executive director of the Conservation Council for Hawaii, says Simonds is providing “the advocacy and the lobbying campaign” against the proposal to expand Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. “It’s totally inappropriate for Kitty Simonds in her official capacity as executive director of Wespac – a taxpayer, federally funded entity – to play such a prominent role in an aggressive lobbying effort to generate public and political opposition to the proposed expansion,” Ziegler said Friday in an interview. The Conservation Council of Hawaii’s complaint was sent Friday to David Smith, deputy inspector general in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General, and Lois Schiffer, general counsel for the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. Read the story here 14:40
Papahanaumokuakea: Hawaii Fishermen get no response from Obama, Schatz
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has yet to respond to a June 20th request to meet with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on his proposal to expand the size of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument fourfold. Also unanswered are letters sent by the council to President Obama on April 8 and July 14, 2016, with concerns about the impact to Hawaii’s fisheries of the proposals by Schatz and by seven Native Hawaiians in January 2016 that the president expand the monument using his authority under the Antiquities Act. Council Chair Edwin Ebisui Jr., Executive Director Kitty M. Simonds and Vice Chairs McGrew Rice, William Sword, John Gourley and Michael Duenas reminded the Senator that the Council has federal jurisdiction over the waters within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands beyond the current monument boundaries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. “We are dismayed that you did not consult with the prior to distribution of your letters, which have proliferated unsubstantiated statements through the media,” the council wrote to Schaltz. Read the rest here 10:13
Scientist sees no benefit in expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Monument
A senior scientist from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council says there’s no conservation benefits in expanding Hawaii’s protected waters. Council members are opposing the plan to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Monument saying it would be detrimental to Hawaii’s economy, food security and food production. An executive order, issued by President Obama in 2014, would increase the Monument five-fold and reduce the available fishing grounds in the exclusive economic zone around Hawaii from 63 to 15 percent. The scientist, Paul Dalzell, said claims that the monument’s expansion would improve conservation were false. He says, “It will not improve things for fisheries or for the abundance of marine fish. “For a start off, it’s open ocean so pelagic species just swim through it. It won’t pile up there and then replenish fish stocks around the main Hawaiians.” Link 16:19
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting in Honolulu March 15 – 17, 2016
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convenes March 15 to 17, at Fuller Hall, YWCA, 1040 Richards St., Honolulu. Fishermen, other stakeholders and members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting and decision-making for federally managed fisheries in the offshore waters of Hawai’i, the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and US Pacific Remote Island Areas. Read the rest here 12:17
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Pacific Islands Fishery News!
Welcome to the Winter 2016 edition of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Pacific Islands Fishery News! Click here to download the complete PDF and be sure to allow a few extra seconds for the file to upload. Our last newsletter of 2015 is dedicated to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s activities in Hawai’i, one of our areas of jurisdiction. We hope that the sections on management, research and community projects will offer you a glimpse of the breadth of what we do-from conserving fishery ecosystems to promoting the livelihood of fishermen and a culture of fishing and from serving as the bridge between fishermen and the government to fulfilling our requirements.. Read it here
No overfishing of bottomfish in US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Scientific and Statistical Committee, a group of renowned fishery scientists who advise the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, concluded its two-day meeting in Honolulu this week by setting the 2016 and 2017 acceptable biological catches (ABCs) for bottomfish in the US territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The ABCs are the amount of fish that can be harvested annually by the fisheries over time without causing overfishing of the stock. Read the rest here 12:30
Hawaii Bigeye Tuna Industry Reels Two Months after Reaching Its Quotas
HONOLULU (08 Oct. 2015) For the past two months, since early August, about a quarter of the 145 active vessels in the 
have been prohibited from catching their target species, bigeye tuna. Arbitrary quotas not linked to conservation objectives are keeping them tied at the docks. These struggling vessels and small businesses they support are accumulating millions of dollars in debt each month, causing untold anxiety for the local fishing community and consumers. This travesty has happened because of two international quota systems,,, Video, Read the rest here 08:42
WPRFMC Press Release – Milestone Reached in Setting of New Bottomfish ACLs for US Pacific Island Territories
HONOLULU (18 Sept. 2015) A milestone was reached this week in the setting of the 2016 and 2017 annual catch limits (ACLs) for federally managed bottomfish fisheries in the US Territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The current ACLs of 101,000 pounds; 66,800 pounds; and 228,000 pounds, respectively, for the territories were initially set for fishing year 2013 based on a 2012 stock,,, Read the rest here 19:40
Hawaii’s longline fleet dodges hurricanes – Can they survive the Enviro Tsunami?
Bigeye tuna caught by Hawaii’s longline industry is in short supply right now as the fleet dodges Hurricane Ignacio and Hurricane Jimena. Some longline vessels that headed out, turned around without catching anything to avoid the powerful storms. In August, Hawaii’s longline fleet hit the bigeye tuna catch limit of 3,502 metric tons established by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Conservation groups, however, have filed a lawsuit to block the change,,, Video, Read the rest here 08:23
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Address Hawai’i, American Samoa, Protected Species Issues
HONOLULU (18 March 2015) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded the second day of its three-day meeting in Honolulu yesterday with recommendations for federally managed fisheries in Hawai’i and American Samoa as well as protected species. Federally managed fisheries operate seaward of state waters, which generally encompasses waters 0 to 3 miles from shore. Read the rest here 08:03
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Press Release 6 March 2015
The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet March 10 to 12, 2015, to consider and make recommendations on the issues summarized – American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area Temporary Exemption – American Samoa Longline Albacore Catch Limit – 2015 US Pacific Territory Longline Bigeye Specification, Read the rest here 17:11
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Responds to the President’s Pacific Monument Expansion Decision
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) acknowledges that the President’s amended Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) expansion plan reduces the economic toll the original plan would have taken on sustainable US Pacific Island fisheries. The announcement of the final plan comes after months of the WPRFMC expressing serious concern for a sudden, unilateral proposal from the White House to expand the monument. Read the rest here
Obama Extends (Scaled Back) Hawaii National Marine Monument – Kitty Simonds,“U.S. fishermen should be able to fish in U.S. zones,”
The White House announced late Wednesday that President Barack Obama would prohibit fishing in three of America’s remote island territories in the Pacific by declaring them marine national monuments. In June, Obama had proposed closing five areas, which would have doubled the no-take zone. Read the rest here 07:54
WPRFMC Press Release, September 23, 2014 – Workshop Addresses Issue of Disproportionate Burden in Pacific Island Fisheries
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council sponsored a first of its kind workshop on Sept. 18-20, 2014, at the Council office in Honolulu to discuss the concept of “disproportionate burden.” Read the rest here 09:01
Conservationists Spar With Fishermen Over World’s Largest Marine Monument
From the article: “It is very likely that the canneries would go away if the proposed monument expands,”, “they are getting squeezed” by increasing regulations and competition from Asia. Monica Medina, the senior director of International Ocean Policy for National Geographic, says the debate over whether to expand the monument really should not hinge on a cost-and-benefit analysis to fisheries. Read the rest here 15:17:34
Half of Hawaii’s Bottomfishing Restricted Areas Opening Up
A long-simmering dispute over the state’s Bottomfishing Restricted Areas (BRFA’s) between Hawaii’s fishing community and the state’s and fisheries scientists has resulted in a move by the state to open six BRFAs and keep six BRFAs closed. Read more here 17:45
American Samoa: Strong views about fishing rights
Utulei and Fagatogo resident Christina Lutu-Sanchez urged alia vessel owners and fishermen not to label owners and fishermen of longline vessels as “they” or people from “outside” because they are not. Tuala-uta resident Esther Fiatoa points out that the waters around American Samoa are not owned by the federal government but by the Samoan people.Read more, and two audios here 16:48
Longliners vs alia fishermen – Read more here
Tautai o Samoa Longline and Fishing Association wants waiver to fish in 50 mile zone
The Tautai o Samoa Longline and Fishing Association have requested the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council for a temporary moratorium or waiver from regulations governing the 50 mile area closures around American Samoa. Read [email protected] 18:13
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council – Request for Proposals – Electronic Reporting System
All proposals must be submitted by February 15, 2014, Read more here 16:31
PNA Must Cut Purse-Seine Juvenile Bigeye Catches
HONOLULU (23 November 2013) A proposal that would subject the US longline tuna fisheries to a 45 percent reduction in bigeye tuna catch is being proposed by the Parties of Nauru Agreement (PNA), an organization that has supported rampant expansion of tuna purse-seining in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), says Arnold Palacios, chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC). This impact of the purse-seine expansion has led to bigeye overfishing and a 75 percent reduction in bigeye yield. Read more here 22:07
Listen Live! From Honolulu – Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Meeting – Happening NOW!
The 158th Council Meeting starts today with agency reports and Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEPs. If you can’t make it down to the Laniakea YWCA in downtown Honolulu, you can catch the meeting online at
https://wprfmc.webex.com/
For the agenda and other information (including the webex link) visit www.wpcouncil.org 19:43
Scientists Recommend Spatial Management Measures to Conserve Bigeye Tuna, Elimination of Hawaii Bottomfish Restricted Areas
WPRFMC Press Release, Oct. 11, 2013 – An international group of scientists that advises the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) concluded its three-day meeting Thursday admonishing the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC) for its failure to prevent an increase in fleet capacity, fishing effort and catch of tropical tunas in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). more@ Press Releases 10:28
Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council – Impressive publication!
Pacific Islands Fishery News Summer 2013 – Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council link 23:35
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Address Overfishing (lots of info)
HONOLULU (28 June 2013) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day meeting today [Friday] in Honolulu on federally managed fisheries in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and other US Pacific Islands. continued@pacificnewscenter
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is considering removal of limit on swordfish catch
The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) says analysis of logbook and observer data indicates that swordfish catch rates in the American Samoa longline fishery are extremely low, with the majority of fishin trips having no swordfish. The SSC is proposing a no limit of swordfish per trip, and this recommendation and others will be considered by the Council when it meets in Honolulu June 26-28. [email protected]
Hawaii fishermen say development is hurting reefs
Hawaii fishermen asked policymakers to address how runoff caused by land development harms reefs, fisheries and oceans when they consider how to cope with the effects of climate change. Ocean health can’t be looked at in segments, Oahu fisherman Roy Morioka told a committee of the federal body responsible for managing fisheries around Hawaii and other parts of the western Pacific region.Government officials need to take a comprehensive approach, Morioka told a Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council committee on ecosystem management in Hawaii today. continued@honolulustar
Mama’s Fish House is starting a new FAD making life easier for Maui’s fishermen ( a new series? Good Cook – Bad Cook?)
The Maui News – Yes, it’s true. The iconic 40-year-old Mama’s Fish House in Kuau is starting a new FAD. That is, “fishing aggregate device,” to assist local fishermen with an effective deep-sea helper. “We are funding a fishing buoy!” she continued. “There are so many reasons this is the right thing to do, including supporting the local fishermen on which our business relies.” continued
SSC: Scientists Recommend Management Options for South Pacific Albacore, False Killer Whales, Hawai`i Bottomfish
Honolulu – The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) that advises the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day meeting Thursday in Honolulu. Read more
