Press Releases
Press Release-Fishers Forum Sheds Light on the Challenges and Passion Behind Hawai‘i’s Commercial Fishing Industry (10 June 2025)
HONOLULU (10 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) hosted a lively and thought-provoking Fishers Forum last night, June 9, at the Ala Moana Hotel. Titled “From Hanapa‘a to How Much? What It Takes to Fish and Sell in Hawai‘i,” the...
Press Release-Council to Review Monument Policy Shifts, Take Final Action on LL Monitoring & Uku Catch Limits (04 June 2025)
HONOLULU (4 June 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene June 9–11 in Honolulu to review major federal policy changes that could reshape fisheries access across the Pacific Islands, and to take final action on several critical...
Press Release-SSC to Tackle Key Pacific Fisheries Challenges at 156th Meeting (02 June 2025)
HONOLULU (02 June 2025) From shifting ocean temperatures to changing fishery participation, the Pacific’s marine ecosystems are in flux. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet June 4–6, 2025, to...
Press Release-Clarifying Impact of President Trump’s Action on Pacific Fishing (23 April 2025)
HONOLULU (23 April 2025) Recent media responses to President Trump’s April 17 Proclamation to restore access for American fishermen to the waters between 50 to 200 nautical miles (nm) offshore within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM) have...
Press Release-President Trump Returns Fishing to US Fishermen in the Pacific Islands (18 April 2025)
WASHINGTON D.C. (18 April 2025) “By doing this, we are giving you back your lives.” President Trump’s words echoed across the Pacific as he signed a Presidential Proclamation to restore access for American fishermen to the waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles...
Press Release-Western Pacific Fishery Council Urges Increased Federal Funding (27 March 2025)
HONOLULU (27 March 2025) In a critical call to action, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to address severe funding shortfalls that threaten the future of fisheries management and vital...
Press Release-Changing Environment and Presidential Executive Orders (26 March 2025)
HONOLULU (26 March 2025) “This is our food, our way of life and the management of these waters impacts our communities.” Today, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council heard a report from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) summarizing community...
Press Release-Fishing Council Flags Economic Burdens of Electronic Monitoring, Backs Relief (25 March 2025)
HONOLULU (25 March 2025) At the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting today, discussions on electronic monitoring (EM) in longline fisheries in Hawai‘i and American Samoa focused on cost allocation, funding strategies and economic viability. The...
Press Release-Fishing Challenges, Clashes Call for Fairer Regulations and Enforcement (18 March 2025)
HONOLULU (18 March 2025) “Having a voice is one thing, but making real change is another.” This sentiment resonated at recent community meetings in Kailua-Kona and Hilo, where fishers shared concerns about shifting ocean conditions, regulatory challenges and...
Press Release-Council Science Advisors Discuss Updates to Protected Species Issues and Strategic Planning for WPR (14 March 2025)
HONOLULU (14 March 2025) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) met this week and reviewed protected species management in the region’s fisheries. Discussions underscored the growing influence of the...
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