June 5, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
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 fishery management measures. The meeting is open to the public, with participation available both in person and via Webex.
The Council will discuss recent presidential actions that may have significant implications for fisheries management and ocean resource access in the region.
Executive Order 14276 – Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness: Among other provisions, directs NOAA to review marine national monuments, including Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll, and the Marianas Trench, to ensure alignment with national seafood priorities.
Executive Order 14192 – Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation: Mandates the identification of at least 10 regulations for repeal with each new regulation issued, with the goal of minimizing regulatory burdens and encouraging efficient use of public and private funds.
Executive Order 14303 – Restoring Gold Standard Science: Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to issue guidance on how federal agencies must use, interpret, and communicate scientific data, with an emphasis on transparency and rigor.
The Council will consider analyses of these actions and may offer recommendations regarding their potential effects on fishing access and regulations. The public is encouraged to send in their comments.
The Council will hear from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on a new initiative to evaluate a potential offshore mineral lease sale near American Samoa. This follows a request from a U.S.-based company, Impossible Metals, and is the first such federal step in more than 30 years. The proposal aligns with national priorities to expand domestic access to critical minerals and reduce reliance on imports. BOEM will conduct a public review process to assess environmental impacts, geologic conditions and potential conflicts with ocean uses such as fishing.
In addition to the presidential actions, the Council will take final action to authorize electronic monitoring (EM) as a recognized data collection tool in the Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries. The EM program, currently voluntary and research-focused, would be transitioned to a formal monitoring mechanism. The Council will decide whether the program should be mandatory or optional, and how it should be funded beyond 2027, when federal support for equipment and sampling is currently set to expire.
Also on the agenda is Council review of a regulatory amendment to require crew training and a trained person on deck in these same longline fisheries. The action would expand existing protected species handling and release training requirements to crew members to reduce post-release mortality of protected species and ensure compliance with Endangered Species Act biological opinions. The Council will weigh options for recertification frequency, including annual, biennial or permanent certification.
In Hawai‘i, the Council will take final action on the annual catch limits for uku (green jobfish) in the main Hawaiian Islands for fishing years 2026 to 2029. This follows a stock assessment update that found the uku fishery is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. The Council will consider alternatives ranging from status quo to updated catch limits based on the latest assessment. It may also revisit whether in-season monitoring is practical for this fishery given challenges with data collection and reporting.
The Council will also discuss the 2024 Annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports for its five Fishery Ecosystem Plans: Hawai‘i, American Samoa, the Marianas, the Pacific Remote Island Areas and Pelagic Fisheries. These reports include updated information on bottomfish and pelagic fisheries, ecosystem trends, fishery participation, catch and economic performance.
The second day of the meeting, Tuesday, June 10, will begin with virtual opening remarks from Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, assistant administrator for National Marine Fisheries Service, followed by a review of the marine EOs from Sam Rauch, NMFS deputy assistant administrator for regulatory programs.
How to Join
In-Person: Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom (410 Atkinson St., Honolulu, HI)
Online: Join remotely via Webex: https://tinyurl.com/
Get the Full Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/
FISHERS FORUM
As part of the meeting week, the Council will host a public Fishers Forum titled “From Hanapa‘a to How Much? What It Takes to Fish and Sell in Hawai‘i” on Monday, June 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom.
Fishers have shared that making a living from commercial fishing has become increasingly difficult, with only a few able to do it full-time. Yet they play a critical role in food security, feeding those who cannot fish and supporting island communities. To thrive in today’s fishing industry, one must understand more than just how to fish—costs, regulations, market shifts and environmental changes all factor in. At the forum, participants will hear directly from fishers and marketers about the real-world challenges of the business. The event will feature presentations, informational tables, giveaways and more.