Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Archives - Page 2 of 36

Guam fishers get their say on federal rules that govern their waters

March 17, 2026 — With fishing communities on Guam already watching federal officials eye their waters for potential deep-sea mineral extraction, a regional fishery council is heading to three villages to ask a different but connected question: are the federal rules that govern where and how island fishers work even making sense?

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, partnering with consulting firms Lynker and The Parnin Group, will hold three public meetings on Guam in mid-March to hear directly from fishers and residents about which federal fishery regulations they find confusing, burdensome or simply unnecessary.

Sessions were set for Monday, March 16 at the Dededo Village Community Center, 319 Iglesia Circle; Tuesday, March 17 at the Sinajaña Village Community Center, 117A Chalan Guma Yu’os; and Wednesday, March 18 at the Malesso Village Senior Center, 440 Chalan Joseph A Cruz Ave. Each runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and refreshments will be provided. A fourth session was scheduled for Friday evening in Saipan.

Amy Vandehey, the council’s education and outreach coordinator, said the review targets specific federal regulations that have long drawn scrutiny, among them the Guam Large Vessel Bottomfish Prohibited Area, the structure of bottomfish annual catch limits, and the friction between federal and territorial management systems that fishers who work both inshore and offshore waters have to navigate.

Read the full article at the Marians Variety

SSC to Review Monument Fishing, False Killer Whale Science and Kona Crab Limits at March Meeting

March 16, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

From monument fishing regulations to false killer whale science and Hawai‘i fishery catch limits, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will take up several key issues at its March 17 to 19, 2026, meeting in Honolulu. The committee will review new scientific information, discuss changing management priorities and provide advice that will help shape upcoming Council decisions for fisheries in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Agenda Highlights

Commercial Fishing Regulations in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument

One of the SSC’s action items is to review alternatives to reopen commercial fishing in federal waters 50 to 200 nautical miles around Wake Atoll, Johnston Atoll and Jarvis Island in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Commercial fishing in those waters has been prohibited since 2014, but Presidential Proclamation 10918, issued in April 2025, directed NOAA to publish new rules to amend or repeal regulations restricting fishing in the monument’s expansion area. Prior to the closure, permitted and highly regulated fisheries in those waters included bottomfish, precious corals, crustaceans, pelagic species and coral reef fisheries. The SSC’s advice will help inform the Council’s recommendation on what regulatory approach should apply in the monument expansion area when it takes final action at its 206th meeting later in March.

Alignment of Science and Management Priorities

The SSC will review a Pacific Islands regional effort by the Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service to better align science and management priorities at a time of reduced funding and limited capacity. Using a national risk-value matrix framework, the process is aimed at identifying which fisheries may require a narrower management or research focus, what operational changes may be needed and how those changes could be implemented while still meeting legal mandates. The SSC’s advice will help guide a proposal expected to come back to the Council in June.

The committee will also discuss whether to revise the Council’s reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSRA) Five-Year Research Priorities Plan to reflect changing federal priorities, including possible updates to research needs related to fishery development and efficiency, and Council Inflation Reduction Act-funded projects.

MHI Insular False Killer Whale Abundance Estimates

The SSC will take a closer look at new science on the endangered main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular false killer whale population, including recent research that found a decline in abundance after accounting for sampling bias. The committee had previously asked for additional sensitivity analyses and more information on the demographic factors behind the reported population trend. At this meeting, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center staff will return with a presentation focused on those analyses and the supporting evidence.

Kona Crab Annual Catch Limits

The SSC will discuss catch limit options for the MHI Kona crab fishery for fishing years 2027 to 2030 as the current annual catch limit approaches its 2026 expiration. The committee will consider whether to maintain the existing acceptable biological catch of 30,802 pounds, along with associated accountability measures designed to prevent overfishing. That catch level was previously set using the best available stock assessment information and adjusted to account for scientific uncertainty. The SSC’s advice will help determine whether that level should be maintained or revised for the next specification period.

Electronic Monitoring Program Updates

The SSC will review updates to electronic monitoring (EM) for the Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries, including a revised vessel monitoring plan template developed with input from the fishing industry through a series of forums. Each vessel will have its unique plan outlining responsibilities, configurations, contingencies for malfunctions and contacts. The discussion will examine how EM can be implemented effectively to monitor fisheries while minimizing operational burden and addressing questions related to responsibilities at sea. A final vessel monitoring plan is expected to support mandatory implementation of EM by July 2026.

How to Join

In-Person: Council Office, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI

Online: Via Webex: https://tinyurl.com/159SSCMtg, Event password: SSC159mtg

Get the Full Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/159th-scientific-and-statistical-committee-meeting

The SSC provides advice to the Council, which will meet March 24-26, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom in Honolulu, www.wpcouncil.org/event/206th-council-meeting.

Reducing Red Tape in Federal Waters around the Mariana Islands: Reg Review Community Meetings

March 9, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, in partnership with Lynker and The Parnin Group, will host a series of public meetings across the Mariana Islands in mid-March. These meetings will provide space for local fishers and community members to share experiences, cultural knowledge and concerns about federal fishery regulations.

EVERYONE WELCOME!

We are asking fishing communities for their ideas on how to make local and federal fishing regulations work better together. Your feedback will help us remove confusing or unnecessary regulations while ensuring our ocean resources stay healthy for future generations. This is your chance to shape a simpler, coordinated management system that truly meets the needs of local fishers.

(Council Regulatory Review Project Overview)

Meeting Schedule:

● Saipan, CNMI

Date: March 13, 2026 (Friday)

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ChST)

Location: Carolinian Utt, Beach Road, Garapan

● Dededo, GU

Date: March 16, 2026 (Monday)

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ChST)

Location: Dededo Village Community Center, 319 Iglesia Circle

● Sinajaña, GU

Date: March 17, 2026 (Tuesday)

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ChST)

Location: Sinajaña Village Community Center, 117A Chalan Guma Yu’os

● Malesso, GU

Date: March 18, 2026 (Wednesday)

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ChST)

Location: Malesso Village Senior Center, 440 Chalan Joseph A Cruz Ave

For more information, please contact Angela Dela Cruz-CNMI (angela.delacruz@wpcouncil.org), Felix Reyes-GU (felix.reyes@wpcouncil.org), or Brett Wiedoff (Brett.Wiedoff@parningroup.com). See flyers below and please help spread the word!

Fishermen and Scientists Unite to Tackle Shark Depredation in the Pacific Islands

February 20, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, in partnership with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, hosted the region’s first shark depredation workshop Feb. 10–11, 2026, to address the issue and develop mitigation strategies for U.S. Pacific Island fisheries. Fifty-two participants from four countries and all three U.S. Pacific Island territories attended.

Shark depredation was repeatedly raised during the Council’s community consultation meetings held region-wide in 2025. Fishers described lost catch, damaged gear and safety concerns during bottomfishing and trolling—what many called a growing “tax” on their livelihoods. The issue was highlighted in Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, Wai‘anae, Kona, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Manu‘a Islands, where fishers reported more frequent interactions both nearshore and offshore. Fishermen from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawai‘i shared firsthand accounts and the need for practical solutions.

Plenary presentations reviewed trends in shark interactions across the Pacific Islands, the effectiveness and limitations of commercially available deterrent technologies, and the complex regulatory landscape governing shark interactions. Breakout sessions and an evening forum brought fishermen, scientists, managers and technology developers together to identify cost-effective fishing adaptations, priority research gaps and governance challenges linked to environmental change.

Participants described depredation as an increasingly significant economic and operational burden, including longer trips to replace fish. In some fisheries, fishers reported losing up to 50% of their catch in certain instances, along with growing “operational fatigue” from repeated shark encounters.

Fishers also discussed on-the-water strategies to reduce depredation—moving spots frequently to avoid shark aggregation, avoiding chumming or cleaning fish on the grounds, and using high-speed electric reels to bring fish to the surface quickly. Technology discussions included magnetic and electrical devices, as well as chemical repellents, with participants weighing cost, durability and species-specific performance.

“We need to catch the fish; if it works, it works regardless of scientific backing,” said Hawai‘i fisherman Eddie Ebisui III, who volunteered to test deterrent options in real-world conditions.

American Samoa participant Vincent Tofilau said the workshop “provided a ground-breaking platform for scientists and fishermen” and laid the foundation for future regional collaboration.

Recommendations emphasized fishermen must be active partners in solutions and that improved data are needed to better understand the scale of depredation and its impacts on commercial, noncommercial and subsistence fisheries.

Key recommendations included:

Improve regionwide reporting and data collection on depredation events, including fish lost to sharks, number of hooked sharks and socio-economic costs, using simple and non-burdensome tools and building on existing surveys and programs.
Coordinate near-term, cooperative field testing of deterrent technologies with fishermen and share results across islands; evaluate cost, durability and species-specific performance and consider combinations of deterrents and adaptive fishing practices.
Expand localized research to better understand shark abundance and behavior by island areas and U.S. exclusive economic zones, and ensure assessments and management decisions reflect local conditions. This could expand capabilities for managing sharks in fisheries.
Improve clarity and consistency among federal, state and territorial regulations to allow harvest of shark species with healthy populations, and explore funding mechanisms (e.g., grants or subsidies) that can help fishermen adopt mitigation measures where regulations limit responses to depredation.

The Council will hear a report on workshop outcomes at its 206th meeting on March 24-26, 2026. Participants urged the agencies, universities and community organizations to identify a lead entity to champion this issue and to convene a follow-up workshop within 6–12 months to review progress and share results from on-the-water deterrent trials. Participants also recommended expanding future discussions to include additional stakeholders, such as shark tourism operators, alongside fishers, scientists and managers.

Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds pointed out the lack of funding through industry cooperative research and development programs such as the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) grant program. “S-K funding comes from 30% of customs receipts on imported fish products, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars each year, but only about $10 million is available to fishermen through grants. That’s a drop in the bucket of the support the program was intended to provide.”

The S-K Act requires at least 60% of funds be used for direct industry assistance grants benefiting the fishing community.

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