Press Releases
Press Release – Council Urges Reopening of Fishing Grounds Based on New False Killer Whale Study (11 March 2020)
HONOLULU (11 March 2020) A new study indicates that the pelagic stock of false killer whales around the Hawaiian Islands may be healthier than previously thought. Amanda Bradford of NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center presented the research yesterday to the...
Press Release – Mandatory Hawai‘i Pelagic Small Boat Fishery Permit and Reporting to Be Explored (10 March 2020)
HONOLULU (10 March 2020) Federal fishery managers today in Honolulu voted to explore mandatory permit and reporting requirements for the pelagic small-boat fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) around Hawai‘i. The Western...
Press Release – Meeting on Management of US Pacific Island Fisheries Next Week Allows Web Participation (06 March 2020)
HONOLULU (06 March 2020) Members of the public concerned about the coronavirus can participate in next week’s 181st meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council by web conference. The public may also participate in person in the March 10 to 12...
Press Release – Scientists Set Acceptable Biological Catches for Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish, Recommend New Stock Assessment for Mariana and American Samoa Bottomfish (05 March 2020)
HONOLULU (05 March 2020) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day 135th meeting today in Honolulu. Key outcomes addressed the Mariana and American Samoa Archipelago bottomfish...
Press Release – Scientists to Address 2020 Bottomfish and Bigeye Tuna Catches for US Pacific Territories (28 Feb. 2020)
HONOLULU (28 February 2020) Scientists from throughout the Pacific will meet March 3 to 5 in Honolulu to discuss acceptable catch of bottomfish in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and catch and allocation limits for longline-caught...
Press Release – Reviewers Approve Stock Assessment for Uku (Hawai‘i Gray Snapper), Emphasize the Need for Accurate Recreational Catch Data (28 Feb. 2020)
HONOLULU (28 Feb. 2020) In Hawai‘i, consumers prefer deep-water snappers for their red and pink color, which has cultural significance especially around the winter holidays. However, in May and June, fishermen switch to target the less desired, but just as delicious,...
Press Release – Kudos to the Coast Guard for Combatting IUU Fishing in the Western Pacific Region (27 Feb. 2020)
HONOLULU (27 Feb. 2020) Taotasi Archie Soliai and Kitty M. Simonds, chair and executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, laud the US Coast Guard's recent success in combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in the...
Press Release – National Listening Session on Fisheries Management Held in Honolulu – No Reauthorization of Fisheries Management Act Expected This Year, Branding of US Produced Seafood Discussed (21 February 2020)
HONOLULU (21 February 2020) The seventh stop of a nationwide listening tour on fisheries management issues was held today in Honolulu. Initiated by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Waters, Ocean and Wildlife, the session was hosted by...
Press Release – Hawai’i Swordfish Harvest Is Back after Nine-Month Hiatus – New Measures Will Aid Fishery and Protect Sea Turtles (16 January 2020)
Swordfish landed by the Hawai'i longline fleet being prepared for auction in Honolulu. HONOLULU (16 January 2020)The Hawai'i swordfish fishery is expected to land its first catch in nine months tomorrow. This healthy fishery produces approximately 55 percent of...
Press Release – Interim Bottomfish Measure Addresses Overfishing, Allows American Samoa Fishery to Operate (24 October 2019)
UTULEI, AMERICAN SAMOA (24 October 2019) Fishermen from Tutuila and Manu'a islands concerned about the future of the Territory's bottomfish fishery attended the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting yesterday and today in Utulei,...