Saving Seafood

Western Pacific Fishermen Losing Last Vestiges of U.S. Waters Open to Fishing; Council Frustrated

June 29, 2022 — Sanctuaries, marine monuments, no-fishing zones — Western Pacific fishermen are trying to hold on to as many areas open for fishing as they can.

Last week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council supported permitting non-commercial fishing and prohibiting commercial fishing in the Monument Expansion Area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, from 50 to 200 nautical miles.

However, Council members were infuriated because continuing to close areas to fishing is an affront to indigenous peoples. Members stressed the importance of continuing indigenous cultures and practices. Guam Council Vice Chair Manny Dueñas noted that permitting fishing perpetuates Hawaiian culture, and does not preserve it in a pickle jar.

“Whether they decide to or not, I want the Hawaiians to have the opportunity to be able to practice their culture,” Duenas said in a press release.

“It is important that we allow Native Hawaiian traditional practices, but minimize the impacts from non-native fishing,” David Sakoda, Council representative for the State of Hawai‘i, added.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Council Concerned With Lack of Support for Western Pacific Fishing Communities

June 22, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

On the first day of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting, members learned that while the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) FY2022 budget increased this year, the Council’s annual request was reduced by $343K. This cut will impact capacity-building efforts, the annual report on the status of fisheries in the region and the protected species program.

Council members were critical of the devaluing of fisheries in the Pacific Islands. Council Chair Taotasi Archie Soliai was concerned that Council programs are being impacted. “NMFS keeps talking about equity and justice, but this is not seen in our islands.”

Soliai continued, “Our economies and cultures depend on the ocean and fishing,” noting the proposed closure of the remaining waters of the Pacific Remote Island Areas north of American Samoa. Governor Mauga of American Samoa asked President Biden not to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, while Governor Ige of Hawai‘i supported the request by the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition (PRIC). “Hawaii has a large, highly developed and diversified economy. American Samoa does not,” said Governor Mauga. “American Samoa is highly dependent on the United States for financial assistance to support our infrastructure, harbors, airports, hospitals, and schools. If our tuna industry collapses, American Samoa will become more dependent on U.S. financial aid.” Links to the governors’ letters can be found here: www.wpcouncil.org/event/191st-council-meeting-virtual.

Manny Dueñas, Council vice chair from Guam, echoed the chair’s comments, noting that the reduction of funding and additional closures are a “personal and major concern to the fishing communities in the islands” and that “in the Marianas, we need to fish to feed our people.”

Council members discussed a delinquent NMFS draft bottomfish fisheries biological opinion (BiOp) that was provided to the Council less than three weeks ago for comments. The publication of the opinion took three years to develop and John Gourley, Council vice chair from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), commented, “fishermen have been waiting for this to be completed to ensure they weren’t adversely affecting the protected species in their area.”

Council members also expressed their frustration with BiOp delays for the Hawai‘i deep-set longline and American Samoa longline fisheries, noting the extended delays create uncertainties that cause anxiety. The Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds reminded the NMFS regional administrator that there is a policy directive that recognizes the Council’s unique role in helping NMFS comply with the Endangered Species Act. The Council remains optimistic that it will have the opportunity to review draft BiOps prior to its next meeting in September.

The Council also requested the U.S. Coast Guard station a fast response cutter in American Samoa to support U.S. coastal security, national and international fishery patrols, search and rescue and national defense. As international fisheries around American Samoa grow, the Council would like to ensure that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing does not encroach into the U.S. exclusive economic zone.

The Council will convene tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22 for the second of its three-day meeting to review and potentially make recommendations on protected species, pelagic and international fisheries, and program planning and research. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing oral public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/191st-council-meeting-virtual

Western Pacific Scientists Discuss 2021 Fishery Reports and Bottomfish Fishery Management Changes

June 15, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) at its meeting today discussed highlights from the 2021 Annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Reports. The reports cover the performance of Council-managed fisheries in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and pelagic fisheries in the Pacific region.

Fishery performance for pelagic fishers generally increased in each of the regions. Tunas dominated the catches and increased in all four areas relative to 2020. These increases were driven by bigeye and yellowfin in Hawai‘i, South Pacific albacore and yellowfin in American Samoa, and skipjack and yellowfin in the Mariana Archipelago.

Island fishery performance was mixed among the four regions. CNMI’s bottomfish fishery had a substantial increase in annual catch to 74,885 pounds, likely due to an increase in fishing effort. Similarly, Guam’s bottomfish fishery also had an increase in catch to 54,221 pounds – among the highest in three decades of available data. The Deep-7 bottomfish complex in Hawai‘i had a slight increase in trips and catches driven by onaga and ehu, and annual catch and revenue of uku also increased.

However, SSC members noted the large decline in American Samoa bottomfish catch down to 2,215 pounds in 2021. “Unfortunately, this does reflect the reality of the situation,” said Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Fisheries Biologist Domingo Ochavillo. COVID-19-related issues affected bottomfish fishermen in the territory such as vendors not buying due to increased prices, loss of crew to Apia, Samoa, and pelagic and imported bottomfish being cheaper in the market.

Fishermen observations in the SAFE reports emphasize the importance of considering “on-the-water” information. In 2021, fishers across the region noted many new entrants to fisheries may have negatively impacted fishery performance data. Fishers continued to adapt to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, including a decrease in market demand and high fishing expenses. Some fishers reported selling their catch through other channels such as roadside vendors.

The Archipelagic and Pelagic Plan Teams recommended improving annual reports by reviewing and revising bycatch reporting tables, and generating a territorial non-commercial fisheries section.

Highlights from the SAFE Reports can be found here: www.wpcouncil.org/status-of-the-fisheries-2020-21.

CNMI Bottomfish Management Unit Species Analysis

The SSC endorsed changes to the CNMI bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) complex. Giant ehu (Etelis boweni) and blue-lined gindai (Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus) were added to the CNMI Fishery Ecosystem Plan and other species were recommended to include in a territory fishery management plan (FMP).

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center completed analyses of CNMI creel survey data to support revising the BMUS complex. The analysis grouped species caught together. Federal management plans will include 10 deep-water species and the territory FMP will include five primarily shallow-water species.

The Council’s original Bottomfish FMP for the Western Pacific Region listed 20 fish species that dominated the landings, which included both shallow- and deep-water species. The BMUS were grouped into a single bottomfish complex. The territory’s bottomfish fisheries have evolved over time with the rise and fall of large vessel fleets and various sporadic fishery development projects. Current bottomfish fisheries consist of small boats undertaking single-day trips with a low number of participants targeting both coral reef fish and deep-water snappers using the same pole-and-line gear.

The SSC meeting continues tomorrow with discussions on false killer whale interactions and depredation, area-based management and deep-sea mining.

New film highlights resilience of Guam deep-sea fishers

May 18, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Guam Museum will screen the new documentary “Open Ocean Fishing in the Mariana Archipelago”  Saturday, May 28, at 2 p.m. A panel discussion with fishermen from Guam and the Commonwealth  of the Northern Mariana Islands will follow, and be live-streamed on the Guam Museum’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts. Admission is free.

The original inhabitants of the Mariana Islands were great open-ocean fishermen for 3,000 years, catching marlin and other deep-sea fish from their sailing canoes. After Spanish colonization in 1668, warfare, disease and the relocation of the remaining people put a stop to CHamorus  building their såkman canoes, sailing between islands. It led to a 200-year gap (1750-1950) where they did not fish in the open ocean. After World War II, and with the introduction of modern boats with motors, CHamorus have returned to the open ocean, leading to a resurgence in deep-sea fishing.

The screening and panel discussion is the fourth Heritage-Ideas-Traditions-Arts or HITA Talk of 2022, a monthly education program and lecture series offered by the Guam Museum. Funded by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, directed by Judy Amesbury and produced by Shooting Star Productions, the film is also available on the Council’s YouTube page: youtube.com/watch?v=jf56B6YaJ0I.

“We are excited to have Ms. Amesbury present her video on this topic,” said Dr. Michael Bevacqua, Guam Museum curator. “In our permanent exhibit, we have a section on ancient CHamorus’ skill in deep-sea fishing, alongside an image and model of a 15-foot-long blue marlin caught off the coast of Litekyan that held the world record for a number of years.” Bevacqua added, “People find this connection from past to present fascinating, and this documentary and HITA Talk can help bring out this cultural continuity.”

Judith R. Amesbury earned her degree in anthropology from the University of Arizona. She has worked with Micronesian Archaeological  Research Services, Guam, for more than 25 years. Her area of expertise is marine resource use. Amesbury has authored numerous reports and publications about fishing  and invertebrate collecting, and shell artifacts in the Mariana Islands.

The  Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council manages federal fisheries operating in waters offshore of the State of Hawai‘i, the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, the CNMI  and the U.S.  Pacific Remote Islands Areas.

Read the full release at Mariana Variety

 

 

NOAA ship leaves Hawaii for historic deployment

March 30, 2022 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ship Rainier has finally departed on the farthest journey of its 52-year history.

Originally planned for 2020, the ship is on a 3,307-nautical mile expedition to the Western Pacific to map the waters and survey the reefs. The ship set sail from Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 26.

This is Rainier’s first multidisciplinary expedition to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A team of scientists on board will map the waters from shore to almost 2,000 meters deep. The data collected from this trip will support safe navigation as well as coral habitat and fisheries conservation; it will also support storm surge and tsunami modeling.

Read the full story at KHON2

 

WPRFMC: 2021 Public Meetings Notice

November 15, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council announces the following public meetings on fisheries management in offshore waters of Hawai‘i (HI), American Samoa (AS), Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIAs). Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will be held by web conference. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates. All times listed are local island times. For more information on the virtual meeting connection and complete agendas, go to www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars, email info@wpcouncil.org, fax (808) 522-8226 or phone (808) 522-8220.

Fishing Industry Advisory Committee

November 16 (T)     1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Fishing and market issues/impacts; Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI deep-set longline (DSLL) fishery; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting reports; False killer whale acoustic study and Take Reduction Team research priorities; AS gear diversification project report; and CNMI bottomfish (BF) development and training report.

Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee 

November 16 (T)     3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Fishery allocation discussion; National Recreational Fishing Summit update; and Fishermen observations.

AS Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP)

November 16 (T)     6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (SST)

Major agenda items: AS Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF) project reports; AS outreach and education update; AS BF Data Workshop report; Territorial BF Fishery Management Plan update; AS fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

Pelagic and International Standing Committee

November 17 (W)    1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery; Endangered Species Act Biological Opinions report; Hawaii Longline Assoc. and Tautai o Samoa Longline & Fishing Assoc. reports; and WCPFC meeting reports.

Social Science Planning Committee

November 18 (Th)   1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Socioeconomic modules for the annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation reports; Social Science Strategic Plan update; and Environmental justice in fisheries management.

Mariana Archipelago FEP-CNMI AP

November 18 (Th)   1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (ChST)

Major agenda items: Fish aggregating devices (FADs) and fishery infrastructure reports; Military issues and concerns; Catchit Logit transfer and mandatory reporting requirements; SFF project updates; CNMI fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

Mariana Archipelago FEP-Guam AP

November 18 (Th)   6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ChST)

Major agenda items: Military issues and concerns; FAD issues and solutions; Council Coral Reef Program update; AP outreach and education report; Guam fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

HI Archipelago FEP AP

November 19 (F)     1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery; Proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) sanctuary update; Green turtle management update; HI Dept. of Aquatic Resources sportfish funding report; HI fishermen observations update; and AP plans and working group reports.

142nd Scientific and Statistical Committee

Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/142SSCMtg. If prompted, password SSC142mtg.

November 30 – December 2 (T – Th)  11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery (action item); Environmental justice report; AS BF Data Workshop report; and SSC and Council Coordination Committee area-based working group reports.

Executive and Budget Standing Committee

December 6 (M)  3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Financial and administrative matters; and Council family changes.

189th Council Meeting

Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/189CouncilMtg. If prompted, password CM189mtg.

Host sites: Tedi of Samoa Bldg., Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, AS

BRI Bldg., Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI

Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatña, Guam

December 7 – 9 (T – Th)   11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)

Major agenda items: Territorial creel survey expansion; Seabird mitigation measure revisions in theHI DSLL fishery (action item); False killer whale weak hook study report; AS BF Data Workshop report; WCPFC meeting reports; and Proposed NWHI sanctuary update.

Written comments on final action items on the 189th Council meeting agenda received by Dec. 3, 2021, will be distributed to Council members prior to meeting. Direct comments to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPRFMC, and mail to 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; fax to (808) 522-8226; or email to info@wpcouncil.org. Written comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting.

 

2021 WESPAC Public Meetings Notice

August 30, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council announces the following public meetings on fisheries management in offshore waters of Hawai‘i (HI), American Samoa (AS), Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIAs). Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will be held by web conference. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates. All times listed are local island times. For more information on the virtual meeting connection and complete agendas, go to www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars, email info@wpcouncil.org, fax (808) 522-8226 or phone (808) 522-8220.

Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee
September 1 (W) 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) uku fishery monitoring and management; Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) sanctuary designation; Proposed Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) changes; Regional research priorities; and Fishermen observations.

HI Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP)
September 3 (F) 9 a.m. to noon (HST)
Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI deep-set longline (DSLL) fishery; NWHI sanctuary designation; MHI uku annual catch limit (ACL) specification; Proposed MSA changes; Report on HI bottomfish restricted fishing areas; HI fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

AS Archipelago FEP AP
September 7 (T) 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (SST)
Major agenda items: AS bottomfish updates; AS large vessel prohibited area update; Proposed MSA changes; AS fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
September 9 (Th) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Military impacts on Guam fisheries; Import impacts on HI seafood markets; NWHI sanctuary designation; AS bottomfish rebuilding plan update; MHI uku ACL specification; and Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery.

Mariana Archipelago FEP-Guam AP
September 9 (Th) 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ChST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Bigeye tuna quota transfer review and options; Guam fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

Mariana Archipelago FEP-CNMI AP
September 11 (Sat) 9 a.m. to noon (ChST)
Major agenda items: Proposed MSA changes; Regional research priorities; CNMI fishermen observations update; and AP plans.

141st Scientific and Statistical Committee
Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/141SSCMtg. If prompted, password SSC141mtg.
September 14 – 16 (T – Th) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery (action item); and Second Tropical Tuna Workshop and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Committee Science Committee updates.

Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee (FDCRC)
September 20 (M) 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: FDCRC Strategic Plan 2022-2026; and Catchit Logit implementation report and transfer to territorial agencies.

Executive and Budget Standing Committee
September 20 (M) 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Financial and administrative matters; and Council family changes.

187th Council Meeting
Direct link to meeting: https://tinyurl.com/187CouncilMtg. If prompted, password CM187mtg.
Host sites: Tedi of Samoa Bldg., Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, AS
BRI Bldg., Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI
Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatña, Guam
September 21 – 23 (T – Th) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)
Major agenda items: Standardized bycatch reporting methodology and fishery ecosystem plan amendments (action item); Seabird mitigation measure revisions in the HI DSLL fishery (action item); AS bottomfish rebuilding plan (action item); and MHI uku ACLs for fishing years 2022-25 (action item).

Written comments on final action items on the 187th Council meeting agenda received by Sept. 17, 2021, will be distributed to Council members prior to meeting. Direct comments to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPRFMC, and mail to 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; fax to (808) 522-8226; or email to info@wpcouncil.org. Written comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting.

Summary of Action Items for the 187th Meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

August 26, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The 187th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene September 21-23, 2021, by web conference (Webex) with host sites at the following locations:

  1. Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa
  2. Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatña, Guam
  3. BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St. Garapan, Saipan, CNMI

The Webex link is https://tinyurl.com/187CouncilMtg (if prompted, enter event number: 177 946 5402; password: CM187mtg).

The Council will consider and may take action on the issues summarized below, including any public comments on them. Written public comments on final action items should be received by the Council’s executive director by 5 p.m. (HST), Friday, September 17, 2021, by postal mail, fax or email as indicated below.

Instructions for connecting to the Webex and providing oral public comments during the meeting will be posted on the Council website at https://www.wpcouncil.org/event/187th-council-virtual-meeting.

Read the full release here

Western Pacific Scientists Support Fishermen Input on Annual Reports, Gear Requirements to Protect Sharks

June 18, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The SSC supported inclusion of a new section on fishermen observations to the annual status of the fisheries regional and pelagic reports for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Hawai‘i and the Pacific Remote Island Areas. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council discussed this and other issues during its three-day virtual meeting this week.

Fishermen contributions to the 2020 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports provided important input in light of COVID-19-related restrictions on data gathering, and real in-water experiences that cannot be replicated by federally funded science.

Bottomfish catch, effort and participation generally declined for all areas except for CNMI in 2020 relative to historical averages, with impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic likely being a contributing factor. In addition, there was a severe reduction in fishery-dependent sampling, especially in Guam, where nearly half of the scheduled creel catch interviews for the year were not conducted due to social distancing restrictions.

The Council produces the SAFE reports through contributions of data and analyses from local and federal partners. The reports give a snapshot of fishery performance and include oceanic and climate indicators, such as increasing sea surface temperature, which contributes to local mass mortality events for coral.

The SSC supported options for bigeye tuna longline catch and allocation limits for 2022 of either up to 3,000 metric tons (6.6 million pounds) or 6,000 metric tons (13.2 million pounds) total transfers for the U.S. Participating Territories of American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI. This recommendation is based on a 2020 assessment for the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) that indicated the bigeye tuna stock is healthy—not subject to overfishing or overfished.

In accordance with applicable laws, the Council may recommend a quota for each U.S. territory and may allow transfer of part of its quota through speci­fied fishing agreements. These agreements are negotiated once the U.S. quota (3,554 metric tons in 2020) is reached.

A new risk analysis from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center found that a longline fishery gear change by the Hawai‘i deep-set fleet from wire to monofilament leaders would reduce the catch and mortality of oceanic whitetip sharks by about 30%. If a ban on wire leaders was implemented at the international level under regional fishery management organizations, it would reduce the species mortality by 35% across the region.

The SSC finds that the available scientific information provides support for prohibiting wire leaders in longline fisheries and requiring removal of trailing gear from accidentally hooked species like threatened oceanic whitetip sharks. The Council is considering a regulatory change to improve post-hooking survivorship of oceanic whitetip sharks that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and is subject to overfishing and overfished in the WCPO. Science also provides support for removing as much trailing gear as possible, including the weighted swivel. The SSC recommended that the Council continue to work with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the fishing industry to research methods and practices to facilitate additional safety measures to prevent fly-back.

The SSC also recognized the importance of addressing fishery impacts to oceanic whitetip sharks at the international level due to the small relatively impact from U.S. longline fleets.

The SSC heard a presentation on a 2020 study that scored 95 U.S. fisheries with respect to bycatch using a “relative bycatch index.” Results from the analysis could potentially be used to facilitate management intervention strategies for particular fisheries or gear types, such as shrimp and otter trawls and several pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries, which had the poorest bycatch performance. These findings underscore the need for continued, high-quality, easily accessible bycatch information to better support fisheries management in the United States and globally. The Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery had a relatively high index value as compared to the shallow-set and American Samoa longline fisheries. However, the SSC noted that the study did not take into account regional differences in bycatch strategies and criteria weighting.

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets June 22-24, 2021, virtually with host sites at Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatña, Guam.

Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates.

PACIFIC DAILY NEWS: US must hear out territories on coral critical habitat designation

June 14, 2021 — It’s important for the United States to protect endangered species and their habitats, but it’s also important for the federal government to talk to and work with states and territories before it makes far-reaching decisions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Services plans to impose coral critical habitat designation on Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The reason is that seven coral species, several of which are found in the waters of these territories, have been listed under the Endangered Species Act. The federal law requires the designation of critical habitat for listed species within the U.S., if “reasonable and prudent.”

Read the full opinion piece at the Pacific Daily News