When reviewing potential regulatory changes, the Council also draws upon the services of knowledgeable people from local and federal agencies, universities and the public, who serve on Council panels and committees.
Advisory bodies include the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), the Archipelagic and Pelagic Plan Teams, the Advisory Panel (AP), Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees (REAC) and other committees.
Advisory bodies provide comments, both written and oral, on relevant issues being considered by the Council.
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) – The SSC reviews the scientific and technical information of fisheries in the western Pacific Region and provides the Council with scientific advice for a science-based management decision. The SSC is a multi-disciplinary body comprised of oceanographers, resource economists, fishery biologists, social-scientist, population modelers and other knowledgeable experts.
Advisory Panel (AP) – The Council receives advice from a panel of recreational and commercial fishermen, charter boat operators, buyers, sellers, consumers and other knowledgeable about the fisheries in the region, including indigenous fisheries. the panel includes sub panels for the American Samoa Archipelago, Hawaii Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago and Pacific Pelagic Ecosystem.
Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) – 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.
Plan Teams – The Council has teams of scientists, managers and industry representatives who make recommendations to the Council based on their annual review of the region’s bottomfish and seamount groundfish, coral reef ecosystem, crustaceans, pelagics and precious coral fisheries.
Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees (REAC) – The Council receives advice from the American Samoa, Hawaii and Mariana Archipelago REACs. Each REAC brings together Council members and representatives from federal, state and local government agencies; businesses; and non-governmental organizations with responsibility and interest in land-based and non-fishing activities that potentially affect the marine ecosystem of the relevant archipelago.
Community Demonstration Project Program Advisory Panel (CDPP AP) – The CDPP AP was created in 1997 by the Council to develop the eligibility criteria for the Community Development Program and the Community Demonstration Project Program under MSA 305(j). The CDPP AP consists of eight members, 2 from each island area, and has the responsibility to rank the CDPP proposals for recommendations to the Council. Funding for the CDPP has not been available in the past 10 years.
Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee (FDCRC) – The FDCRC is a collaborative partnership between fishery management agencies and federal counterparts that coordinates and supports the improvements in the collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant, reliable and unbiased information and enhances the trusted exchange between stakeholder groups enabling an effective fishery management at all levels.
Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee (NCFAC) – Established as the Recreational Data Task Force (RDTF), the NCFAC continues the objective of the RDTF to provide advice and recommendations on non-commercial fishery issues and seek to provide better data and information on non-commercial fisheries in the region.
Other Advisory Bodies – The Council convenes and solicits recommendations from a variety of other committees as warranted, such as its Education Committee, Social Science Planning Committee, and the Hawaii Bottomfish Advisory Review Board [(BARB)].