June 23, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is coming to American Samoa to hear directly from the people who know the ocean best—the local fishermen. Through a series of community meetings, the Council aims to gather first-hand insights about the changes being seen in local waters and the real-life challenges faced by the fishing community. This effort is part of a two-year initiative to build stronger partnerships and support the future of fishing in American Samoa.
Key Discussion Topics: Shark depredation; Seasonal changes in fish spawning; Juvenile fish abundance; Barriers to sustaining fishing livelihoods; Access and harbor issues; Market challenges; and Executive Order 14276 – Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness: Among other provisions, directs NOAA to review marine national monuments, including Rose Atoll, to ensure alignment with national seafood priorities
Meeting Schedule:
Manu‘a Residents on Tutuila Island – Tues, June 24, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (SST)
Sadie’s by the Sea Conference Room, Goat Island Cafe, Utulei Village
Ofu & Olosega Islands Residents – Wed, June 25, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. (SST)
Conference Room at EOB, Ofu Village
Ta‘u Island Residents – Thurs, June 26, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (SST)
ASG Building by the High School, Faleasao Village
Tutuila & Aunu‘u Residents – Fri, June 27, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. (SST)
DYWA Conference Room, Tafuna Village
In addition, the American Samoa Council Advisors meeting will also be held Saturday, June 28 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (SST) at the Flying Fox Gastropub, Pava‘ia‘i Village.
The American Samoa Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee meeting will be held Monday, June 30 from 9 a.m. to noon (SST) at the Sadie’s by the Sea Conference Room, Utulei Village.
Major agenda items for both meetings include an overview of the Council’s community consultation efforts; fishery issue discussions on deep-sea mining, shark depredation, marine national monuments and recent executive orders, and climate change impacts in American Samoa.
You can provide public comments on EO 14276 at these meetings, and you can also send comments to the Council office at info@wpcouncil.org by July 15, 2025. Would you like to see the boundary of the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument reduced from 50 nm offshore? Your voice matters as we work together to navigate changes and enhance the fishing community’s future.
The monument prohibits all commercial fishing and other extractive activities within its boundaries. However, subsistence fishing by local communities and recreational fishing are allowed and subject to certain restrictions and regulations. For example, recreational fishing is allowed for pelagic species such as tuna and billfish, but is prohibited for bottomfish and other reef-associated species.
For more information, contact Felix Penalosa (felix.penalosa@wpcouncil.org) or Nate Ilaoa (pavafox684@gmail.com), and visit www.wpcouncil.org/
About the Council
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Council is responsible for developing and implementing fishery management plans for waters surrounding Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI and U.S. Pacific Remote Island Areas. The Council works to promote sustainable fisheries, protect marine ecosystems and support the livelihoods of fishing communities through science-based decision-making and stakeholder engagement.