Saving Seafood

Fishers, Scientists and Community Invited to Talk Shark Depredation

February 6, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

More and more Hawaiʻi, Guam, American Samoa, and Mariana fishers are reporting the same frustrating story: sharks showing up on the grounds, taking fish off the line and biting into hard-earned catch. It’s not just lost fish — it’s lost time, lost fuel and lost opportunity, and it can make it harder to fish, support local livelihoods and feed our community.

To bring those experiences together with the latest information and practical tools, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and Pacific Islands Fisheries Group will host a community discussion and expert panel on shark depredation in Hawaiʻi waters and the Pacific. The public forum accompanies a two-day workshop on shark depredation and mitigation. Experts from all over the world, including scientists and shark deterrent manufacturers, are engaging with members of the fishing community and local agency staff to develop strategies to reduce the impact of shark depredation in U.S. Pacific Islands fisheries.
This forum is designed to be practical and fisher-focused. Participants will be able to share what they’re seeing on the water, hear from experts about current observations and impacts, and get clarity on existing regulations — including what fishers can and can’t do. The gathering will also highlight shark deterrent technologies and other ideas that may help reduce depredation and improve fishing success.
The event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. Input from fishers and community members will help shape next steps, including cooperative research priorities, outreach needs and future management considerations.
A summary of current research and research needs is available here and on our Hot Topics web page.
All fishers, scientists and community members are welcome! Event details are provided in the flyer below. For more information, please contact Mark Fitchett (mark.fitchett@wpcouncil.org) or Alex Min (pacificfisheries@gmail.com).

HAWAII: Tension persists as Hawaii cultural practice is still barred by federal law

February 5, 2026 — Hawaii’s formerly endangered green sea turtle population has rebounded in recent decades, with the species now a common sight along the state’s beaches. While the increased populations have benefited tourism, with visitors gathering on beaches to take photos of the animals, some Native Hawaiians are asking when they, too, will be allowed to benefit from the rising population by harvesting turtles for food.

“A lot of people, they think it’s a bad thing, you know, especially, like, the outsiders that not from here,” Native Hawaiian fisherman Miki Duvauchelle told SFGATE. “They come over here and you know, they just want to put all these laws, all these protections, and it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s a source of food, just like a fish.’”

Fifty-year-old Duvauchelle was born and raised on Molokai. The island has no large resorts, and its residents have a history of resisting development and overtourism. There’s no Costco or McDonald’s, and grocery stores are limited. Residents, he said, largely rely on subsistence living — hunting, fishing and gathering for their families.

“It was a blanket listing, so it didn’t consider at the time the importance of turtle use in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. It didn’t look at any of that cultural importance,” Asuka Ishizaki, the protected species coordinator for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, told SFGATE. The council is one of eight regional councils managing federal waters, and it has long advocated for the cultural harvesting of Hawaii’s turtles while still prohibiting them from commercial fishing or sale.

Ishizaki said the endangered species listing lumped long-standing cultural practices with commercial exploitation, creating a tension that continues today.

“You going to get arrested and go to court, and no matter what you do, they going to find fault with you and put you in jail, charge a big fine, whatever, and that is something that we cannot control. This ban is part of their control,” Kelson “Mac” Poepoe, a 76-year-old Molokai resident, told SFGATE.

Read the full article at SFGATE

WPRFMC continues push to restore commercial fishing access in marine monuments

December 26, 2025 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) is continuing its push to restore commercial fishing in multiple marine national monuments, directing staff to analyze regulations and submit final recommendations ahead of the council’s March 2026 meeting.

“Pacific Island people are unfairly required to bear the burden of the country’s environmental guilt, and the monuments represent a large inequality in how our peoples are treated,” American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Director and Council Member Nathan Ilaoa said in a release.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Western Pacific Council Moves EM Implementation Forward, Backs Satellite Connectivity for Safety and Data

December 18, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

On the second day of its 205th meeting, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council advanced key actions to strengthen monitoring, improve at-sea communications and support U.S. Pacific territories in international tuna negotiations. 

Electronic Monitoring: Moving From Planning to Implementation

The Council heard an update on electronic monitoring (EM) planning for Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries, including ongoing coordination among implementation and science partners, fisherman-focused EM forums that began November 25 and continued development of vessel monitoring plans (VMPs). Operational topics raised in VMP discussions included pre-trip system checks and uninterrupted power, camera clarity and lens cleaning, malfunction contingencies and hard drive logistics—especially for longer American Samoa trips.

To support reliable communication at sea, the Council endorsed a Regional Fishery Management Councils letter urging consideration of web-based satellite systems (such as Starlink) as FCC-approved communications options for commercial fishing vessels, noting EM systems could potentially use these mechanisms and that several vessels in the region are already using them successfully.  

Council member Edgar Feliciano from American Samoa urged that web-based satellite services like Starlink be authorized for EM in the longline fleet, emphasizing performance and operational benefits. “Starlink should be approved as a preferred communication platform for electronic monitoring—it’s fast, reliable and ideal for moving video and data from vessels in remote areas, improving efficiency, data quality and compliance as the program rolls out through 2027.” He added that real-time connectivity would allow quicker troubleshooting of malfunctions and faster resumption of data collection.

 Council member Roger Dang from Hawai‘i echoed that support. “Approving systems like Starlink helps address a major safety issue and is the path forward for reliable data transmission,” he said, adding that costs are likely to decrease as more providers enter the market.

 WCPFC22 Follow-up: South Pacific Albacore and Bigeye Tuna Priorities

Building on outcomes from Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22), held in Manila Dec. 1–5, 2025, the Council outlined several near-term actions to support U.S. Pacific Islands interests in upcoming international negotiations:

  • Asked NMFS to work with American Samoa and provide updated South Pacific albacore catch and economic data to inform early 2026 allocation discussions.
  • Urged NMFS to coordinate with the territories on a plan to pursue a South Pacific albacore conservation and management measure that would:

……o set an American Samoa catch limit grounded in historical (or ……..aspirational) catch levels and longline capacity,

……o include transfer provisions that recognize American Samoa’s ……..relationship with the U.S. and its role in the Commission, and

……o allow flexible transfers to other WCPFC members, recognizing ……..American Samoa’s limited direct access to high seas fishing areas.

  • Sought support for an in-person bigeye tuna management procedure workshop in Honolulu to allow participation of local longline industry.

 False Killer Whales Population Trends

The Council also addressed concerns about new abundance estimates for the endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale population and emphasized the need for clear, transparent analysis before conclusions are drawn about what may be driving apparent decline. 

 The Council reiterated its request for the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) to present the abundance estimates to the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), a briefing previously delayed due to the government shutdown. The Council requested that PIFSC run additional analyses identified at the SSC’s 148th meeting in June 2023 to determine whether the estimated population decline is real or an artifact of the underlying data or the modeling approach. 

 During discussion, Council member Matt Ramsey emphasized that public reaction to the reported decline has been immediate and intense, and urged timely scientific clarity so the community is not “jumping to conclusions.” PIFSC’s TTodd Jones noted that multiple papers address the issue and that the observed patterns may stem from several factors, including population dynamics, environmental variability and fishery interactions, and indicated the science center can provide the requested briefing at the Council’s March 2026 meeting. 

 Election of Officers

The Council elected the following officers for terms beginning in 2026:

  • Chair: Nathan Ilaoa
  • Vice Chair (American Samoa): Will Sword
  • Vice Chair (CNMI): Sylvan Igisomar
  • Vice Chair (Guam): Chelsa Muña
  • Vice Chair (Hawai‘i): Roger Dang

Fishing Prohibitions Unfair: Council Pushes for Analysis of Fishing in Marine Monuments

December 17, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council today took another step toward restoring sustainable commercial fishing in waters within several Pacific marine national monuments, considered pristine when they were established. The Council directed its staff to continue analyzing existing regulations in the Pacific Islands Heritage, Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monuments (MNMs), with a final recommendation planned for consideration at its March 2026 meeting.

 Recent presidential directives have instructed federal agencies to identify ways to reduce regulatory burdens and expand opportunities for commercial fishing in monument waters. In response, the Council is preparing a range of options aimed at returning commercial fishing to these areas under sustainable management.

 “Prior to the establishment of the monument in 2009, we stewarded our own waters. With the monument, only the feds are in charge and no one else has a say,” said Council member Nathan Ilaoa, director of American Samoa’s Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. “This initiative before the Council provides an opportunity to talk about how the people want to manage their resources rather, than being told what to do by the feds,” he said. The Council also supported a recommendation to ask the president not to use the Antiquities Act to manage fisheries in federal waters.

 Ilaoa said monument fishing prohibitions undermine the people’s ability to fish and provide food for the community. “Pacific Island people are unfairly required to bear the burden of the country’s environmental guilt, and the monuments represent a large inequality in how our peoples are treated,” he said.

 Council members wrestled with potential enhanced management measures and stressed the need for additional data. Council Chair Will Sword said, “If you don’t go fishing, you can’t get the data.” Council member Gene Weaver added, “The Council’s existing regulations provide more than adequate protection, and we can learn from the fishing that occurs to determine if anything more is needed.” Members emphasized that if commercial fishing is restored, it must be done the right way: under existing federal fishery management authority, with strong monitoring and clear performance measures.

 An important part of the Council’s fishery management decision-making process is the opportunity for community members to provide their input on issues discussed. During the public comment period, commenters were split: several supported reopening monument waters, especially the Marianas Trench, if done cautiously under enhanced regulations (gear and catch limits, protected-species measures, strong monitoring) and paired with baseline studies and adaptive management to support local livelihoods and food security. Others urged no action and keeping existing protections, particularly for Rose Atoll and Papahānaumokuākea, citing the areas’ sacred cultural importance, concerns about inadequate consultation and legal authority, and potential ecological harm.

The Council acknowledged letters to NOAA from the governors of American Samoa and the CNMI supporting fishing. However, one member expressed disappointment with the governor of Hawaiʻi’s letter to NOAA to keep fishing prohibitions in the Papahānaumokuākea and Pacific Islands Heritage MNMs. He argued that locally based, well-managed fisheries are integral to Hawaiʻi’s food security and economic fabric, and noted that the state’s longline fisheries represent its largest agricultural product. He urged greater consideration of Hawaiʻi’s fishermen in any decisions affecting these waters. 

By the numbers:

  • Wild-caught pelagic fisheries in the Western Pacific generated around $108 million in revenue in 2024, including about $105 million from the Hawaiʻi longline fishery (2024 Council Stock Assessment and Fisheries Evaluation report). 
  • Hawaiʻi’s seafood consumption is among the highest in the United States, estimated at more than twice the national average. Once local catch is transformed into value-added products like poke, its economic contribution grows even further.
  • For context across primary production in Hawaiʻi, USDA reports 2024 values of ~$53 million for coffee and ~$42 million for macadamia nuts. 

The Council also recommended the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provide funding to the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center to implement cooperative research that partners with commercial fishers to collect baseline information in monument waters.

The Council also endorsed Scientific and Statistical Committee research priorities, including:

  • Collecting catch/bycatch data suitable for model-based evaluation of policy impacts 
  • Assessing foreign fishing impacts versus domestic fishing near U.S. waters
  • Tagging/telemetry and other low-impact research to evaluate species movement
  • Assessing monument-related fishery impacts on markets
  • Co-designing research with fishing and indigenous communities, as appropriate

Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds said research funding is needed to keep fisheries sustainable and protected. “While it is NMFS’s job to do research, funds are not available because the administration has to deal with other pressing issues,” said Simonds. “Organizations that helped the government establish the monuments have an obligation to help make this happen.”

What’s next

Council staff will complete the requested analyses and draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan amendment alternatives for review ahead of the March meeting, where the Council is expected to take further action on restoring access and finalizing a durable management path forward.

NMFS is expected to share Executive Order 14276 public comments with the Council by early January 2026, followed by January discussions with NMFS on comment summaries and prioritizing next steps, consistent with NOAA guidance from Eugenio Piñeiro Soler.

2026–2029 CNMI Bottomfish Catch Limits

The Council recommended setting the annual catch limit (ACL) for the CNMI bottomfish fishery at 72,000 pounds and the annual catch target (ACT) at 66,000 pounds for 2026–2029. These specifications are based on the results of the NMFS 2025 stock assessment update, along with application of the Council’s P* and SEEM analyses to account for scientific and management uncertainty. The ACT was set below the ACL to provide a management buffer that helps prevent the fishery from exceeding the ACL, ensuring catches remain within sustainable limits.

How to Join the Council Meeting

The Council meeting continues virtually tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hawai‘i time with an Endangered Species Act review for the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery, vessel electronic monitoring and more. The agenda includes scheduled public comment periods.  

 Online: https://tinyurl.com/205CouncilMtg, Event password: CM205mtg

 Get the full agenda & documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/205th-council-meeting-virtual-2

Wespac Looks To Expand Commercial Access To Hawaiʻi’s Papahānaumokuākea

December 16, 2025 –Local fishery managers, moving in step with the Trump administration, want to eventually reopen large protected swaths of the Pacific to potentially all sorts of U.S. commercial fishing — not just the deep-sea tuna and swordfish sought by longline boats but nearshore lobsters and corals as well.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, commonly known as Wespac, will consider on Tuesday options drafted by its staff to lift the commercial bans in several marine national monuments, including Hawaiʻi’s Papahānaumokuākea.

Some of the options that the influential group will consider endorsing would allow commercial fishing to resume in Northwestern Hawaiian waters as close as 3 miles from shore.

The move comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s order last April asking fishery officials to explore reopening the monuments to commercial fishing.

Wespac has for years opposed commercial fishing bans in the Pacific. A brewing legal battle leaves it unclear whether Wespac, backed by the Honolulu-based longline industry and other seafood interests, will ultimately prevail.

Kitty Simonds, Wespac’s longtime executive director, told Civil Beat on Monday that the group considers it a priority to resume bottomfishing and trolling in Papahānaumokuākea’s waters that extend 50 miles out from shore, and to restart longline fishing in the waters 50 to 200 miles out from shore.

“We haven’t changed what we’d like to see from the time of (establishing) the monument, right?” Simonds said. “We made our arguments.”

Read the full article at Civil Beats

SSC Calls for Day One Monument Monitoring and Clearer False Killer Whale Analysis Ahead of Council Meeting

December 15, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Thursday the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council wrapped up a three-day virtual meeting, delivering scientific advice that will help shape decisions at the Council’s 205th meeting next week.

 Marine National Monuments: “Day One” Monitoring if Fishing is Restored

A major SSC focus was what it would take to evaluate real-world outcomes if commercial fishing restrictions change in the Rose Atoll, Marianas Trench and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monuments (MNM). The SSC stressed any restoration should be paired with immediate monitoring and research. Members said managers should not be forced to make future choices without the data needed to measure impacts. 

Among the recommended priorities, the SSC cited the need for “tagging/telemetry and low-impact research approaches” to better understand how fish move in and around monument waters, and “co-designing research with fishing and indigenous communities, as appropriate.”

 The Council will take up monument issues in multiple agenda items, including discussion on commercial fishing recommendations for the Pacific Islands Heritage MNM expansion area and potential options for Rose Atoll, the Marianas Trench and Papahānaumokuākea. The Council will also hear an SSC report on marine protected area science as part of that discussion.

 More Information and Analysis Needed on False Killer Whale Trends

The SSC cautioned that more information and analysis are needed to diagnose what is driving the estimated population trends for the endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale population in an August 2025 paper. The estimated decline could reflect limits in the underlying data or the modeling approach and may not reflect the true population trend.

 SSC members reiterated recommendations they made in 2023, when they reviewed a preliminary version of the analysis. They said a step-by-step sensitivity analysis is needed to show how methodological changes affected results, and that key demographic data are missing. The SSC noted those recommendations were not addressed in the published paper, and their concerns about the validity of the estimated abundance trends remain.

 The August 2025 paper used new analytical methods that account for animal movement in the photo-identification data. The analysis estimated abundance increased in the first half of the time series (1999-2022) but also estimated a 3.5% annual decline over the last 10 years. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) researchers and collaborators who published the study cited possible drivers, including evidence of fishery interactions, based on dorsal fin and mouthline injuries. They also point to other threats like pollution and reduced genetic diversity.

The island-associated insular false killer whale was listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2012. It is separate from the pelagic population, which is known to have incidental interactions with the Hawai‘i longline fishery.

 Territorial Coral Reef Species Life History

The SSC reviewed results from a Council-supported project that used archived samples from PIFSC’s Life History Program to look at 12 coral reef species, about 2,200 samples, from Guam, the CNMI and American Samoa. Researchers used the samples to estimate age, growth and reproduction. 

Members supported expanding life history work to more species and improving how samples are collected so scientists capture a wider range of sizes and seasons. The SSC noted market-based sampling can miss smaller and immature fish that can limit maturity estimates.

The SSC also recommended continued coordination with PIFSC and territorial agencies, along with training and quality-control steps to strengthen fishery-dependent life history datasets used in local management. Those steps include improved species and sex identification, and data-entry checks.

 The SSC is the Council’s main scientific advisory group. Its recommendations will be presented during the Council meeting, alongside agency reports and public testimony. Council members consider that science as they debate and vote on initial and final actions and set future work priorities.

How to Join Council Meeting

The Council meeting will be held virtually Dec. 16–17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hawai‘i time. Major agenda items include commercial fishing actions tied to MNMs, 2026–2029 CNMI bottomfish catch limits, an ESA review for the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery, vessel electronic monitoring and more. The agenda includes scheduled public comment periods, including a block for non-agenda items at the end of the first day. A summary of action items is available at: https://tinyurl.com/205CouncilMtgActions.

  Online: https://tinyurl.com/205CouncilMtg, Event password: CM205mtg

  Get the full agenda & documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/205th-council-meeting-virtual-2

Scientists Deliberate Impacts of Monument Pelagic Fishing Prohibitions

December 9, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

On the first day of its 158th meeting, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council reviewed the best available science on the potential benefits and costs of restoring commercial fishing in U.S. Pacific marine national monuments.

A presentation by SSC member Ray Hilborn, University of Washington professor, examined the limited data available from within existing monument closures, new information from recent re-openings and economic performance of U.S. longline vessels before and after closures. The analysis compared widely promoted claims that large marine protected areas (MPAs) increase biodiversity, create healthier ecosystems and support sustainable fisheries with empirical evidence from the Pacific.

The presentation highlighted that:

  • There is very little direct fishery or ecosystem data from inside the closed areas, with most insights coming from catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) near monument boundaries, acoustic data from drifting fish aggregating devices and economic studies.
  • For the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, modeled increases in tuna abundance through spillover were modest (on the order of a few percent), and may not translate into large fishery gains.
  • In U.S. monument waters, where historical fishing pressure was relatively low, large ecological responses to closure are not expected, and recent studies have found no measurable increase in tuna biomass density inside open-ocean MPAs and, in some cases, substantial reductions in bigeye CPUE linked to the loss of historically productive grounds.
  • Closures of marine national monuments create an illusion of “protection” while leaving non-fishing threats ignored.

Hilborn’s talk also outlined potential SSC platforms for discussion, including that well-regulated U.S. fisheries under the Magnuson–Stevens Act (MSA) are unlikely to pose an abatable threat to pelagic stocks that can be solved through large open-ocean MPAs alone, and that management frameworks such as the MSA and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission already provide tools to achieve conservation goals while considering human and community impacts.

Eric Kingma, executive director of the Hawaii Longline Association, provided public comment following the SSC discussion. He noted that existing monument area closures “exclude U.S. vessels from U.S. waters and leave us very constrained in where we can fish.” Citing declining bigeye catch rates, Kingma emphasized that “we need to be able to find and follow the fish – that’s the most important part.”

“We’re not looking for more fish, but to have the opportunity to fish more efficiently away from competitors,” Kingma said.

SSC to Review Marine Monuments, Monitoring and False Killer Whale Science at Meeting This Week

December 9, 2025 — This week’s Dec. 9–11, 2025, virtual meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will bring together experts to review current research on Pacific fisheries, protected species and ocean management, and to translate that science into advice for future Council decisions.

Highlights include:

Commercial Fishing Regulations in the Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll and Marianas Trench Marine National Monuments: In response to Executive Order 14276 and subsequent Council direction, the SSC will provide scientific advice on the feasibility of lifting existing fishing restrictions and evaluate potential impacts to marine resources in the monuments. The SSC may also identify additional management measures and research needs to be considered before and after any resumption of commercial fishing activities.

The SSC will review the current state of knowledge on large open-ocean marine protected areas in the Western Pacific Region, drawing on recent peer-reviewed studies. This synthesis of scientific results, benefits, limitations and trade-offs of large, closed areas is intended to inform the Council’s consideration of future management options for the marine national monuments and identify priority research gaps.

Electronic Monitoring: The SSC will hear an update on the rollout of electronic monitoring in the Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries, including outcomes from the first workshop on vessel monitoring plans (VMPs) and implementation timelines. Members will have the opportunity to weigh in on issues affecting vessel operators and the use of data for fishery monitoring and other applicable law. The discussion will continue with a finalized VMP template for potential endorsement in March.

SSC Special Projects Working Group Reports: The SSC Protected Species Working Group will provide an update on alternative ways to assess how commercial fisheries may affect species such as false killer whales, oceanic whitetip sharks, and leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. The discussion will focus on different approaches and data needs, with a final report expected in March.

The committee will also hear an initial status update on the multi-species stock assessment strategies process for bottomfish, as National Marine Fisheries Service scientists work with fishermen, managers and partners to apply the new framework for grouping species and using indicator species in future stock assessments.

False Killer Whale Abundance Estimates: The SSC will discuss the latest scientific study on the abundance estimates of endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale population. Members will discuss the implications of the findings for fishery management and identify priority research and monitoring needs.

How to Join Virtual Meeting

Online: https://tinyurl.com/158SSCMtg, Event password: SSC158mtg

Get the Full Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/158th-scientific-and-statistical-committee-meeting-virtual

The SSC provides advice to the Council, which will meet virtually Dec. 16-17, 2025, www.wpcouncil.org/event/205th-council-meeting-virtual-2.

American Samoa Secures Landmark Victory at WCPFC22, US Makes Progress on Commitments for 2026

December 6, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The 22nd Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC22) meeting concluded Friday with a unanimous decision securing the long-term future of the South Pacific albacore fishery, a major gain for the American Samoa longline fishery managed by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.
By consensus, WCPFC members adopted a new management procedure (MP) that could reduce overall South Pacific albacore catch by about 10-12% from recent years to approximately 56,000 metric tons in commission waters. The decision is expected to ease oversupply and improve market conditions for small island fleets, including American Samoa, which saw some of the worst economic conditions on record in 2024. It also meets a key requirement to maintain Marine Stewardship Council certification that allows the American Samoa longline fishery to sell albacore to the local StarKist cannery at a premium price.
“This management procedure has been nearly a decade in the making, and the U.S. Pacific territories took it over the top with their steadfast support,” said Kitty Simonds, Council executive director. “It is a critical step to stabilize the albacore fishery and the island economies and food security that depend on it.”
Council member Nathan Ilaoa, director of the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, championed a more conservative approach during negotiations. “When operational costs are high and catch rates are low, the only fleets that can continue to operate are those receiving substantial subsidies,” Ilaoa said. “That creates a critical inequity for the American Samoa longline fleet and other small island domestic fleets.”
Representatives from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands supported American Samoa and other Pacific Island delegations. “These positions are consistent with protecting island food security and economies,” said Council member Chelsa Muña, director of Guam’s Department of Agriculture.
Next year, WCPFC members will negotiate an implementing measure and catch allocations to fully operationalize the new albacore MP.
The U.S. delegation, led by NOAA’s Drew Lawler, advanced priorities for Council-managed fisheries, including work toward a bigeye tuna management procedure that considers purse seine as well as longline impacts, and a commitment to adopt a conservation and management measure on electronic monitoring in 2026.
“Members of the U.S. and territorial delegations viewed his leadership as a vast improvement over previous years and said this year’s delegation presented a much stronger unified front,” Simonds said.