Press Releases
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...
Press Release – Scientists Highlight Critical Discussions on Observer Coverage, Fishery Management & Future Planning (14 June 2024)
HONOLULU (14 June 2024) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded its meeting yesterday, spotlighting negative impacts of reduced observer coverage in the Hawai‘i longline fisheries and engaging...
Press Release – Hawai‘i Longline Fishery Sees Revenue Decline in 2023 Due to Drop in Fish Prices at Honolulu Fish Auction (7 June 2024)
HONOLULU (7 June 2024) A report prepared for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council highlights a nearly 8% decline in revenue for the Hawai‘i longline fishery due to a drop in average fish prices at the first point of landing in Honolulu Harbor. The...
Press Release – Fishermen Sound Alarm: US Gov Policies Threaten Way of Life in US Pacific Islands (22 March 2024)
“We are affected by decisions today—we lose our fishery, culture, way of life.” HONOLULU (22 March 2024) Amidst mounting concerns and resounding frustration, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convened its 198th meeting this week, where the voices...
Press Release – Scientists Endorse HI and Guam Bottomfish Stock Assessments, Recommend Approaches to Survey False Killer Whales (15 March 2024)
HONOLULU (15 March 2024) Yesterday science advisors to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council accepted two recent bottomfish stock assessments for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) and Guam as the best scientific information available (BSIA). The...
Press Release – WP Scientists to Advise Fishery Management Council on HI and Guam Bottomfish (08 March 2024)
HONOLULU (8 March 2024) Scientific advisors to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet March 12-14, 2024, to provide advice and guidance on the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) deep-seven bottomfish and Guam bottomfish fishery stock assessments,...
Press Release – Council Members Recollect WCPFC Decisions and Set ACLs for American Samoa Bottomfish (13 December 2023)
HONOLULU (13 December 2023) Outcomes from the 20th annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting dominated Council discussion today. The WCPFC, meeting in the Cook Islands, increased the U.S. Hawai‘i-based longline fishery...
Press Release – Existing Fishing Rules Sufficient for Proposed PRI Sanctuary Says Western Pacific Council (13 December 2023)
HONOLULU (13 December 2023) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council yesterday emphasized its solid position on fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) National Marine Sanctuary. The Council determined the existing fishing...
Press Release – WCPFC Increases US Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit, Although US Fails to Secure Benefits for Pacific Territories (11 December 2023)
RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS (11 December 2023) The 20th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting convened in the Cook Islands concluded past 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The meeting was an overall success with a revised tropical...
Press Release – WP Council to Address Final Fishing Regulation Recommendations for Proposed US PRI Sanctuary (07 December 2023)
HONOLULU (07 December 2023) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet next week to discuss its final recommendations for fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary (PRINMS). At its last meeting in...