News + Announcements
FINAL RULE: Discontinue rebuilding plan for American Samoa Bottomfish and ACLs/AMs for 2024-26
This final rule amends the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago (FEP) to discontinue the rebuilding plan for American Samoa bottomfish and implements single-species annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for bottomfish in the...
Request for Proposals-Climate Change & Communities Program (due by Nov. 22, 2024)
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is soliciting services to support its Climate Change and Communities Program (CCCP). Contractors and services are required to carry out projects as supported through NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act funding....
Request for Written Comments: Request for public comment on the draft National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy
NOAA announces the request for written public comments on the draft National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy (National Strategy) in accordance with the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (CRCA), as reauthorized and amended by the James M. Inhofe National Defense...
*COMMENT PERIOD REOPENED* Proposed Rule; Request for Comment: Marine Mammal Protection Act List of Fisheries for 2025
NMFS is publishing its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2025, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed LOF for 2025 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS must classify each...
Notice of Agency Decision: NMFS announces approval of a Marine Conservation Plan for American Samoa
NMFS announces approval of a Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) for American Samoa. This agency decision is effective from August 30, 2024 through July 24, 2027. See Federal Register Notice here. The Government of American Samoa developed the MCP, with concurrence of...
Press Release-Council Creates Indigenous Committee to Strengthen Traditional Voices in Pacific Fisheries (26 September 2024)
HONOLULU (26 September 2024) Concluding its 200th meeting, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council established an Indigenous Committee to provide recommendations to federal authorities on cultural fishing rights and related issues. Sub-panels for...
Press Release-Council Receives Praise, Spars with NMFS on Policies (25 September 2024)
HONOLULU (25 September 2024) 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...
Press Release-Land Acknowledgement Highlights Indigenous Roots & Equity at Western Pacific Council’s 200th Meeting (24 September 2024)
HONOLULU (24 September 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...
Press Release – Fishery Council Celebrates 200th Meeting Milestone (19 September 2024)
HONOLULU (19 September 2024) 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...
Press Release – SSC Advances Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan and Evaluates Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Techniques (13 September 2024)
HONOLULU (13 September 2024) 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...