Press Releases
Press Release – Pacific Scientists Support Streamer Lines to Reduce Albatross Interactions with Tuna Fishery (14 September 2021)
HONOLULU (14 September 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council strongly supported a study that found tori lines are far more effective than blue-dyed fish bait for seabird bycatch mitigation....
Press Release – Western Pacific Fishery Council Advisors to Evaluate Seabird Conservation Measures (09 Sept. 2021)
HONOLULU (09 September 2021) Scientists will meet Sept. 14 to 16, 2021, to provide advice and comments to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on domestic seabird conservation measures, Hawai‘i area-based management efforts, proposed changes to the...
Press Release – Modernizing Catch Reporting in Hawaii and American Samoa Longline Fisheries ( 10 August 2021)
HONOLULU (10 August 2021) The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced last week that the requirement for the Hawai‘i and American Samoa pelagic longline fisheries to electronically report their catch will be effective Sept. 7, 2021. This regulation is...
Press Release – Fisheries Development Projects are Top Priority for American Samoa (6 August 2021)
HONOLULU (06 August 2021) The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced yesterday the approval of a marine conservation plan (MCP) for American Samoa. This agency decision is effective for three years, from July 25, 2021, through July 24, 2024. The latest...
Press Release – Western Pacific Council and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Managers Collaborate to Draft Management Plan (25 June 2021)
HONOLULU (25 June 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and managers of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) agreed to work together yesterday at a meeting in Honolulu to develop a draft management plan ahead of the formal...
Press Release – Western Pacific Council Defers Action on American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (23 June 2021)
HONOLULU (23 June 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted to defer action on the rebuilding plan for the federally managed bottomfish complex in American Samoa at its virtual meeting today in Honolulu. In February 2020, the National Marine...
Press Release – US Pacific Fishery Managers Vote to Prohibit Wire Leaders and Remove Trailing Gear in New Shark Conservation Measure (22 June 2021)
HONOLULU (22 June 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted today to prohibit wire leaders in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery and require removal of trailing gear for all longline vessels operating under the Pacific Pelagic Fishery...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Support Fishermen Input on Annual Reports, Gear Requirements to Protect Sharks (17 June 2021)
HONOLULU (17 June 2021) The SSC supported inclusion of a new section on fishermen observations to the annual status of the fisheries regional and pelagic reports for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Hawai‘i and the Pacific...
Press Release – Scientists Support Combined Management Measures for Uku, Review Mitigation Tactics for False Killer Whales (15 June 2021)
HONOLULU (15 June 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council supported the combined management of the commercial and noncommercial sectors of the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku fishery. Commercial...
Press Release – Pacific Scientists to Consider Snapper Catch Limits, Evaluate Gear Requirements in Longline Fisheries (10 June 2021)
HONOLULU (10 June 2021) Scientists from throughout the Pacific will meet June 15 to 17, 2021, to provide advice on managing the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku fishery, longline fishery gear and release requirements, and other topics to the Western Pacific Regional...