News + Announcements
Federal Register Notice: Final Rule for CNMI Bottomfish ACL and AM for 2024-2025
This final rule implements an annual catch limit (ACL) and annual catch target (ACT) for bottomfish in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for fishing years 2024 and 2025. This rule does not revise, add, or remove the most recent current...
Federal Register Notice: NMFS to Discontinue Rebuilding plan for American Samoa Bottomfish and Implement ACL and AMs for Fishing Years 2024-2026
NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) proposes to amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago (FEP). If approved, the FEP would be amended to discontinue the rebuilding plan for American Samoa bottomfish...
Public Hearings for NMFS Proposed Rule on Oceanic Whitetip Shark Take Prohibitions
NMFS will hold two public hearings on the proposed protective regulations for the oceanic whitetip shark. NMFS has scheduled the hearings in response to a request to allow fishing communities in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern...
Council letter to John Armor, NOAA ONMS providing Council fishing regulations on the Proposed Designation of a National Marine Sanctuary for the PRIAs (December 13, 2023)
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's response to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries request for fishing regulations for the proposed National Marine Sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act Section...
Press Release – Federal Consultation with Governors of US Territories Lacking (26 June 2024)
HONOLULU (26 June 2024) Western Pacific Regional Fishery Mangement Council members expressed dismay with the continued problem of the lack of federal government consultation with territorial governments on Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues, including green sea...
Press Release – Council Reviews Annual Fishery Reports: Trends, Challenges and Future Plans in the Western Pacific (25 June 2024)
HONOLULU (25 June 2024) Council members reviewed detailed reports on the 2023 performance of federally managed fisheries in the Western Pacific region. This annual Stock Assessment and Fisheries Evaluation (SAFE) report consistently observed catch increases across a...
Press Release – Council Tackles Trade Barriers to US Tuna Fisheries at Meeting (25 June 2024)
HONOLULU (25 June 2024) This week, members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council called attention to impediments to U.S. fisheries due to unfair trade practices by foreign fisheries. “Dumping” of cheaper, lower-quality fishery products into the...
Press Release – Equitable Fishing Access and Sustainable Practices to be Addressed at Upcoming Council Meeting in Honolulu (20 June 2024)
HONOLULU (20 June 2024) As the U.S. exclusive economic zone available to fishing continues to shrink due to federal regulations, foreign fishing presence increases and Pacific Islands bear the brunt of American conservation efforts, justice has seemingly turned into...
Spring 2024 Pacific Islands Fishery News
Click here for printable PDF. PIFN Spring 2024 Insert - Justice? Or Just Us? Equity in Fisheries: Balancing Conservation and Livelihoods in the Pacific Islands PIFN Spring 2024 Insert - Seeing Through the Haze:...
US Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarship Applications Due August 23, 2024
UPDATE: The application period for Council's US Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarship has been extended to Friday, August 23, 2024, or until funds are no longer available. HONOLULU (19 June 2024) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management...