News + Announcements
FR Notice: Nominations for U.S. Commissioners to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (May 24, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; call for nominations. SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting nominations, which may include self-nominations, for qualified individuals to serve as...
Press Release – Federal Fishery Managers Continue Reducing Impacts to Protected Species in the Pacific with Required Gear Change (24 May 2022)
HONOLULU (24 May 2022) An industry-led conservation measure to reduce impacts to oceanic whitetip sharks is the latest example in a long history of bottom-up federal fishery management through the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Starting May 31,...
WPCouncil hosted Equity and Environmental Justice Workshop on April 29, 2022
The Council held a workshop at the end of April 2022 that brought together indigenous Council members, advisory panel members, NOAA regional staff and leaders working on equity and environmental justice (EEJ) issues. The group talked about how EEJ integrates with...
FR Notice – Rebuilding Plan for the American Samoa Bottomfish Fishery (May 2, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule implements a rebuilding plan that includes annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for...
FR Notice – Pelagic Longline Gear and Operational Requirements (April 28, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: In this final rule, NMFS prohibits the use of wire leaders in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery, and requires the...
Request for Comments – NOAA Fisheries Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans (2022-2024) (April 22, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of the NOAA Fisheries Draft Climate Science Regional Action Plans (2022-2024); request for comments. SUMMARY: We, NMFS,...
FR Notice – Identification of Nations or Entities Engaged in Illegal, Unreported, or Unregulated Fishing, Bycatch of Protected Living Marine Resources, or Shark Fishing on the High Seas (April 14, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for information. SUMMARY: NMFS is seeking information regarding nations or entities whose vessels are engaged in illegal,...
FR Notice – 2022–2025 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for Main Hawaiian Islands Uku (Gray Jobfish) (Mar. 28, 2022)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Final rule. SUMMARY:In this final rule, NMFS implements an annual catch limit (ACL) of 295,419 lb (134 metric tons (t)), an annual catch target...
FR Notice – Fishing Restrictions for Tropical Tuna and Silky Shark in the Eastern Pacific Ocean for 2022 and Beyond (Mar. 28, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) of 1950, as amended, to implement...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Asks for Remedies to Long-Standing Issues in Western Pacific Region (24 March 2022)
HONOLULU (24 March 2022) At the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting today, Chair Archie Soliai reiterated concerns about NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) delays in completing Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations for the...