News + Announcements
FR notice: 2022 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits (Dec. 29, 2021)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final specifications. SUMMARY: NMFS specifies a 2022 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific...
Request for Comments – 2022-2025 Annual Catch Limits and Accountablility Measures for Main Hawaiian Islands Uku (Gray Jobfish) (comments due by Jan. 26, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to implement an annual catch limit (ACL) of 295,419 lb (134 metric tons (t)), an...
Request for Comments – Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Monument Management Plan (Comments due Jan. 20, 2022)
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments. SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...
FR Notice – 2022 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Lobster Harvest Guideline (Dec. 16, 2021)
AGENCY:National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION:Notification of lobster harvest guideline. SUMMARY:NMFS establishes the annual harvest guideline for the commercial lobster fishery in the...
Request for Comments – Notice of application for experimental fishing permit (comments due by January 14, 2022)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of application for experimental fishing permit; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA)...
New Article Available – “Area‐based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs”
Check out a scientific paper recently published on "Area‐based management of blue water fisheries: Current knowledge and research needs." Authors include several Council Science and Statistical Committee members and staff. Open-ocean marine ecosystems are always...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Recommends a New US Strategy in the Pacific Islands with the WCPFC (9 December 2021)
HONOLULU (09 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council discussed outcomes from the December Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting, including proposed protections on sharks, and conservation and management of...
Press Release – US Pacific Federal Fishery Managers Recommend Tori Lines, New American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment Approach (08 December 2021)
HONOLULU (08 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended today to replace blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discharge with tori lines in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery’s suite of seabird conservation measures. This...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Endorse US Proposal to Increase Bigeye Tuna Quota (02 December 2021)
HONOLULU (02 December 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council this week discussed issues related to bigeye tuna management at the ongoing Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Support Tori Lines Over Blue-Dyed Bait in Tuna Fishery and Exploring New Bottomfish Management Approach (30 November 2021)
HONOLULU (30 November 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council continued to support replacing blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discard requirements in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery...