Western Pacific Community Development Program

Section 305(i)(2) of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act authorizes the Council and the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), through NMFS, to establish a Western Pacific community development program for any fishery under the authority of the Council and NMFS. The intent of the program is to provide Western Pacific communities access to fisheries that they have traditionally depended upon, but may not have the capabilities to support continued and substantial participation in, possibly due to economic, regulatory, or other barriers.

The Western Pacific Community Development Program includes two components: (1) Development Plan Program; and (2) Demonstration Projects Program. Under the Western Pacific Community Development Program (CDP), the Council provides support for fishery projects of Western Pacific communities and indigenous communities through administrative processes. The Western Pacific Community Demonstration Project Program (CDPP) is a grant program that provides funds to Western Pacific indigenous communities for the demonstration of traditional, cultural fishery, fishery management and fishery conservation projects

To be eligible to participate in the western Pacific community development program, a community must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be located in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, or the Northern Mariana Islands (collectively, the Western Pacific);
  2. Consist of community residents descended from aboriginal people indigenous to the Western Pacific who conducted commercial or subsistence fishing using traditional fishing practices in the waters of the Western Pacific;
  3. Consist of individuals who reside in their ancestral homeland
  4.  Have knowledge of customary practices relevant to fisheries of the Western Pacific;
  5. Have a traditional dependence on fisheries of the Western Pacific;
  6. Are currently experiencing economic or other constraints that have prevented full participation in the Western Pacific fisheries and, in recent years, have not had harvesting, processing or marketing capability sufficient to support substantial participation in fisheries in the area; and
  7. Develop and submit a community development plan to the Council and the NMFS.

Development Plan Program

An eligible community seeking access to a fishery under the authority of the Council and NMFS must submit to the Council a community development plan that includes the following information:

  1. A statement of the purposes and goals of the plan.
  2. A description and justification for the specific fishing activity being proposed, including:

Note: The description must be in sufficient detail for NMFS and the Council to determine consistency with the Council’s fishery ecosystem plans, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.

    • Location of the proposed fishing activity.
    • Management unit species to be harvested, and any potential bycatch.
    • Gear type(s) to be used.
    •  Frequency and duration of the proposed fishing activity.

3.  A statement describing the degree of involvement by the indigenous community members, including the name, address, telephone and other contact information of each individual conducting the proposed fishing activity.
4.  A description of how the community and or its members meet each of the eligibility criteria in paragraph (b) of this section.
5.  If a vessel is to be used by the community to conduct fishing activities, for each vessel:

    • Vessel name and official number (USCG documentation, state, territory, or other registration number).
    • Vessel length overall, displacement, and fish holding capacity.
    • Any valid federal fishing permit number(s).
    • Name, address, and telephone number of the vessel owner(s) and operator(s).

Click here for detailed instructions on developing a community development plan proposal.

Demonstration Projects Program

Section 305 (note) of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make direct grants to eligible Western Pacific communities, as recommended by the Council, for the purpose of establishing fishery demonstration projects to foster and promote traditional indigenous fishing practices.

The goals of the Community Demonstration Projects Program (CDPP) of the Western Pacific Region are:

  • To promote the involvement of Western Pacific communities in western pacific fisheries by demonstrating the application and/or adaptation of methods and concepts derived from traditional indigenous practices.
  • To promote the development of social, cultural and commercial initiatives that enhance opportunities for western pacific communities to participate in fisheries, fishery management or conversation.
  • To benefit the indigenous community who have not had capability for substantial participation in the fisheries or marine resource management in their native lands.

Western Pacific communities eligible to participate in the western Pacific community development program are eligible to apply for, and receive grants under the CDPP. Such communities must submit a proposal to NMFS for Projects that foster and promote the use of traditional indigenous fishing practices of Western Pacific communities found on American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii or the Northern Mariana Islands.

Eligibility Criteria for CDP & CDPP (48KB pdf)

FR Notice (October 10, 2010)

Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (164K pdf)