Saving Seafood

Pacific Islands Fishery Management: Honoring Tradition and Driving Innovation

November 2, 2026 — Spanning more than 1.7 million square nautical miles of ocean—larger than the continental United States—the U.S. Pacific Islands region could be defined by its sheer scale.

But island communities have long understood: The vast blue waters between American Samoa, Hawai‘i, and the Mariana archipelagos do not separate island communities; they connect them. Between isolated shoals, atolls, and seamounts stretches a bountiful, living seascape. It’s home to some of the world’s biggest fish and even bigger fishing cultures.

Fishing traditions have shaped the daily lives of Pacific Islands communities for thousands of years. From customary harvests shared across communities, to one of the nation’s highest-value fresh tuna fisheries supplying local and national markets, the ocean remains a key provider in the region.

For 50 years, the Magnuson-Stevens Act has allowed NOAA Fisheries and regional partners to safeguard fisheries that are among our nation’s most prized. This management framework—as dynamic as the region and its resources—enables us to protect fisheries at home while pioneering new standards across the Pacific.

From Coral Reefs to the High Seas

In the Pacific Islands region, a single fishing trip rarely fits neatly into standard categories. A day on the water is often part livelihood, part lifestyle. Some of the morning’s catch may be sold at market. A portion may be brought home for dinner. The rest might be shared across the community, building and maintaining social connections. In addition to these benefits, fishing promotes a personal sense of pride and perpetuates culture and traditions across the Pacific Islands region.

Managing these resources involves navigating incredible complexity. From shallow coral reefs down steep drop-offs to the open ocean, fishermen harvest hundreds of species across the region. Their fishing gear is as diverse as the catch itself: Traditional hand-harvesting methods and modern electronic rigs target everything from deepwater snappers like ‘ōpakapaka to giant billfish.

Commercial fishing also powers the regional economy. Harvesting and processing are fundamental to local livelihoods. In American Samoa, the tuna cannery drives the territorial economy, accounting for 99.5 percent of exports and 84 percent of private sector employment.

Read the full story at NOAA Fisheries

Third deep sea mining lawsuit filed as Trump administration seeks Samoa lease sale

October 26, 2026 — The Trump administration last week published its notice finalizing the first deep-sea mining lease sale of over 31 million acres of seabed off of American Samoa on Nov. 19.

Nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice filed a lawsuit that same afternoon seeking to block it, representing Faleula o le Manu‘atele, a council of Samoan leaders, and Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa and Conservation Council for Hawai‘i.

Samoa’s lease sale will proceed about a month before the Dec. 16 mineral lease auction that the Trump administration wants to do for about 67 million acres of seafloor surrounding the Marianas.

Read the full article at Pacific Daily News

NOAA invests $45.7 million to improve ocean observing systems

October 9, 2026 — NOAA’s U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Office announced today 11 new five-year cooperative agreements to support regional and national ocean observing. These agreements will enable U.S. IOOS regional associations to operate regional coastal observing systems (RCOSs) throughout U.S. waters, and will provide $45.7 million in funding for the first year.

Data collected from ocean observations:

  • Supports anglers, aquaculturists, shipping and logistics managers, and coastal communities in making sound economic and safety decisions;
  • Supports management and mitigation of coastal hazards, such as flooding and harmful algal blooms; and
  • Provides essential information for weather forecasting and national defense.

The regional associations are a fundamental part of the national observing system, and help ensure that the system is both effective and efficient. They are federally certified to collect and manage high-quality observing data, forming robust partnerships with local stakeholders and coastal communities. As the regional component of the nationwide U.S. IOOS network, regional associations meet local needs by using stakeholder feedback to guide the development of RCOSs while also integrating national priorities and requirements.

These cooperative agreements are awarded every five years through a competitive process and support the continued operation and modernization of our nation’s coastal, ocean and Great Lakes observing capabilities. Total awards include additional funding from other NOAA offices in the National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Satellites and NOAA Research.

Read the full article at NOAA Ocean Services

Advancing Bottomfish Research Through Community Partnerships in American Samoa

September 30, 2026 — NOAA Fisheries, American Samoa’s Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, and local fishermen recently completed a groundbreaking bottomfish survey in American Samoa! As the management of these important species evolves, we are building strong partnerships with local communities to build up our understanding of bottomfish life history.

The waters of American Samoa are home to a diverse array of marine wildlife, but few species are as commercially and culturally significant as the region’s bottomfish complex. Bottomfish are deep-water species that live at or near the ocean floor. They’re one of the primary sources of protein for residents of American Samoa, where grocery stores can be few and far between.

Historically, scientists have assessed American Samoa’s bottomfish species together as a multi-species complex to determine population health and fishing limits. Following an independent peer review in 2023, the assessment shifted toward assessing the following six key species individually:

  • Etelis coruscans (Palu-loa, also known as onaga or longtail red snapper)
  • Etelis carbunculus (Palu-malau, also known as ehu or ruby snapper)
  • Etelis boweni (Palu-malau, also known as giant ehu or giant ruby snapper, and often not differentiated from Etelis carbunculus)
  • Aphareus rutilans (Palu-gutusiliva, also known as lehi or silverjaw snapper)
  • Pristipomoides flavipinnis (Palu-sina, also known as goldeneye snapper)
  • Pristipomoides zonatus (Palu-ula, also known as gindai or oblique-banded snapper)

The 2023 independent review also highlighted the need for more species-specific biological information to support future assessments of key species in the bottomfish complex. Developing species-specific assessments requires information on reproduction, age, growth, and other life-history components. Collecting these data improves our scientific understanding of these important fish and provides better information to support sustainable fisheries management.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Judge rejects delay, keeps Samoa mining lawsuit on track before sale

September 23, 2026 — A federal judge in Honolulu has refused to let the Trump administration delay a hearing that could decide whether a deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa broke federal law, leaving open the chance that a court could block the sale before it happens.

U.S. District Judge Jill Otake denied the government’s motion to continue in an order issued Friday. She kept an Oct. 30 hearing intact on Earthjustice’s motion for summary judgment, meaning the case could be decided roughly three weeks before American Samoa’s lease sale, tentatively set for Nov. 19.

Earthjustice’s lawsuit targets the National Marine Fisheries Service, not the Marine Minerals Administration, the Interior agency actually running the sale. The fisheries service issued what’s called a letter of concurrence, agreeing with MMA’s finding that leasing wouldn’t likely harm whales, sea turtles and other protected species. Earthjustice argues the agency never seriously weighed what mining itself, not just leasing, could do to marine life.

The timing carries weight beyond American Samoa. Earthjustice is pursuing a nearly identical case over mining leases planned 47 miles from Guam, and the attorney handling both cases says the Hawaii ruling will shape how the Marianas fight unfolds.

“How things go with American Samoa will greatly inform how things go with (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands),” said Harley Broyles, the Earthjustice attorney, in an interview Wednesday with The Guam Daily Post, “because of the similarity of the issues.”

Read the full article at The Guam Daily Post

Governor submits formal comments on proposed federal offshore mineral lease sale

September 18, 2026 — Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula has submitted his formal comments to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the proposed PACM-1 offshore mineral lease sale.

The Governor’s comments were informed by public comments submitted to his office, the work of the Deep-Sea Minerals Steering Committee, input from territorial agencies and subject-matter experts, and the views, concerns, and perspectives on deep-sea minerals that members of the community have shared publicly over the past year.

Governor Pulaali‘i thanks the many members of the community who took the time to submit comments, ask questions, share information, and express their concerns and perspectives. He also recognizes the members of the Steering Committee, territorial agencies, and subject-matter experts whose contributions helped inform his final comments.

“Our people care deeply about our ocean and what we leave for future generations,” he said. “I have listened carefully to the concerns being raised, particularly about our fisheries and marine environment. Those concerns matter, and they are reflected in the position I have submitted to the Federal Government.”

Read the full article at Samoa News

Council Advances Sea Turtle Actions, Finalizes Fishing Recommendations

September 18, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council yesterday called on federal agencies to move forward with long-awaited green sea turtle status reviews in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and American Samoa — an important step in addressing Pacific Island requests for the restoration of traditional cultural harvest.

“Populations of green sea turtles in the territories are listed as endangered under the ESA,” said CNMI Council member Sylvan Igisomar. “However, an international body of sea turtle experts [IUCN] has determined that they are of least concern — essentially saying they are no longer threatened. We’re looking forward to working with this Administration to address our requests.”

The Council requested the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expedite reviews of the green sea turtle distinct population segments associated with the three U.S. Pacific territories. NMFS Regional Administrator Sarah Malloy said a status review is needed to determine whether a population meets the criteria for downlisting or delisting.

The Council will ask the secretaries of Commerce, the Interior and State to consider renegotiating or withdrawing from the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC). Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds said the convention remains an obstacle to addressing cultural harvest.

“This Convention undermines U.S. law, which is the ESA, because it prevents us from actually allowing a cultural harvest,” Simonds said. “It’s either renegotiating and adding the exemption for cultural harvest, or leave the Convention.”

Longline Sea Turtle Measures
After discussing sea turtle measures affecting the Hawai‘i shallow-set and American Samoa longline fisheries earlier in the meeting, the Council finalized recommendations to evaluate potential regulatory changes. Existing regulations remain in place while alternatives are developed and analyzed.

For the Hawai‘i shallow-set fishery, the Council will prepare an amendment for action in December with final action in March 2027. The analysis will include economic impacts from existing trip limits and the effect of a crew training program begun in 2024 on the condition of loggerhead and leatherback turtles released from fishing gear.

Hawai‘i Council member Eric Kingma said the shallow-set fishery has undergone extensive management changes over the years and supplies about half of the U.S. swordfish production.

“It is worth continuing to review the measures if the science shows there would be little impact,” Kingma said.

The Council also requested timely NMFS analyses needed for the action, including any ESA consultation, and coordination with scientists updating North Pacific loggerhead and Western Pacific leatherback population assessments.

For the American Samoa longline fishery, the Council approved a similar review, with initial action planned for December and final action in March. The review will include consulting with fishermen on the operational impacts of sea turtle measures established under the Council’s Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan Amendment 5.

The Council requested the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center use available observer data to evaluate the effects of Amendment 5 on turtle interactions and target and nontarget catch, including silky and oceanic whitetip sharks.

Papahānaumokuākea Actions Finalized
The Council also finalized recommendations on fishing in Papahānaumokuākea.

For bottomfish, the Council will work with NMFS, its Scientific & Statistical Committee and fishermen to develop an experimental fishing permit to collect information needed to support sustainable fisheries in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and National Marine Sanctuary.

The Council will continue to review existing Magnuson-Stevens Act regulations to determine whether changes to management measures are needed.

In response to NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries request for fishing regulations, the Council concluded existing federal fishery regulations meet the purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the sanctuary’s goals and objectives. These include limited-access programs, gear restrictions, catch limits, protected species mitigation measures and prohibited-area management. Therefore, additional sanctuary-specific fishing regulations are unnecessary.

Council advances fishing access discussions in Pacific marine monuments

September 16, 2026 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council advanced discussions Tuesday on potential fishing access in Pacific marine national monuments, while deferring action on several proposed fishing regulations as additional discussion will take place.

The council deferred action on fishing regulations for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary, as well as Hawaii and American Samoa longline sea turtle measures, until Wednesday, Sept. 16.

During the meeting, a key point discussed was that removing a monument-based fishing prohibition or an individual regulatory requirement would not eliminate other federal fishery regulations. Fisheries would still be subject to applicable requirements involving permits, reporting, catch limits, fishing gear, monitoring and protected species.

Read the full article at Island News Council

2026 Pacific Coral Surveys Complete

September 16, 2026 — The following was released by the NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA scientists returned from American Samoa and the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument after conducting coral reef monitoring surveys. The team sailed south from Honolulu to Jarvis Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Kingman Reef, where they completed their suite of surveys. After a 2,000 kilometer transit down to American Samoa, they visited the islands of Tutuila, Ofu, Olosega, Tau, Swains, and Rose atoll. On the way back to Honolulu, scientists stopped at Howland and Baker Islands to wrap up their surveys in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.

To better understand these coral reef ecosystems, scientists:

  • Counted fish
  • Photographed coral
  • Collected water samples
  • Swapped out oceanographic instruments
  • Collected juvenile fish

You can revisit their journey through an interactive StoryMap.

HAWAII: Experimental fishing eyed as Northwestern Hawaiian Islands reopen

September 16, 2026 — Commercial fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands could resume under an experimental approach as federal fishery managers consider how to regulate fishing in waters largely closed to the industry since 2010.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15-17 to consider regulations for the reopened Northwestern Hawaiian Islands fishery, along with potential changes affecting Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fleets, according to two Council releases published by Saving Seafood.

Ahead of the meeting, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee recommended a deliberate approach to reopening the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery. Before its closure, the area accounted for about half of Hawai‘i’s bottomfish management unit species landings.

Read the full article at National Fisherman