Press Releases
Press Release – US Pacific Scientists Discuss Next Generation Data Collection, New Pacific Strategy to Advocate for Fisheries (17 March 2022)
HONOLULU (17 March 2022) At the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting this week, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Director Michael Seki presented the NOAA Next Generation Data Acquisition Plan (NG-DAP) that will guide data...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Found “Weak Hook” Study Inconclusive as a False Killer Whale Mitigation Strategy ( 15 March 2022)
HONOLULU (15 March 2022) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) found that a National Marine Fisheries Service 2021 “weak hook” study was inconclusive and did not provide scientific support for adopting weaker hooks as the primary strategy for reducing impacts...
Press Release – Fishing Industry Members Advise Managers on Proposed Sanctuaries and Other Issues Important to Western Pacific Region (10 March 2022)
HONOLULU (10 March 2022) The Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) met today to provide advice and recommendations to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council when it meets March 22-24. NWHI and Marianas Trench Proposed SanctuariesThe FIAC...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists to Discuss Research on Area-Based Management and “Weak Hooks” as a Mitigation Strategy (10 March 2022)
HONOLULU (10 March 2022) Scientists across the Western Pacific Region will meet virtually March 15 to 17, 2022, to provide advice and comments to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on area-based management, a weak hook study, American Samoa...
Press Release – Fishery Management Council Recommends a New US Strategy in the Pacific Islands with the WCPFC (9 December 2021)
HONOLULU (09 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council discussed outcomes from the December Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting, including proposed protections on sharks, and conservation and management of...
Press Release – US Pacific Federal Fishery Managers Recommend Tori Lines, New American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment Approach (08 December 2021)
HONOLULU (08 December 2021) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended today to replace blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discharge with tori lines in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery’s suite of seabird conservation measures. This...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Endorse US Proposal to Increase Bigeye Tuna Quota (02 December 2021)
HONOLULU (02 December 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council this week discussed issues related to bigeye tuna management at the ongoing Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists Support Tori Lines Over Blue-Dyed Bait in Tuna Fishery and Exploring New Bottomfish Management Approach (30 November 2021)
HONOLULU (30 November 2021) The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council continued to support replacing blue-dyed fish bait and strategic offal discard requirements in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery...
Press Release – Western Pacific Scientists to Consider Seabird Conservation Measures, Research to Inform Management Decisions (26 November 2021)
HONOLULU (26 November 2021) Scientists will meet Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2021, to provide advice and comments to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on domestic seabird conservation measures, tagging studies to inform management decisions, tropical tuna...
Press Release – Online Portal for the 2020 Annual Fishery Evaluation Reports Now Available (2 November 2021)
HONOLULU (2 November 2021) The 2020 annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports have been released on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s online portal: wpcouncildata.org. These reports on nearshore and pelagic fisheries in the...