September 11, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council concluded its three-day meeting yesterday with recommendations on commercial fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The SSC also identified a federal fishing regulation that may no longer be scientifically justified and additional information needed before the Council considers other regulatory changes.

The Committee called for a deliberate, science-based approach as commercial fishing resumes in the NWHI. The SSC recommended forming a working group with Council and NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) staff to develop a bottomfish data collection plan. It also recommended the Council consider an experimental fishing permit (EFP) as the fishery reopens and said any longer-term permitting regime should have a clearly defined objective.

The NWHI bottomfish fishery had been closed to commercial fishing since 2010. Before closure, the area accounted for about half of Hawai‘i bottomfish management unit species landings and supplied local markets with species specifically caught there. As fishing resumes, SSC members emphasized the need to design data collection carefully to support future spatially explicit assessments.

“An EFP may not be the quickest way to fish, but it may be the right tool to collect data at the start,” said SSC member Shelton Harley. He added that the long period with little fishing creates an opportunity to learn more about natural mortality and growth rates.

Scientists Support Removing Outdated Swordfish Restriction
As part of its review of actions identified under the federal Executive Order on “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” the SSC agreed there is no scientific basis to retain the swordfish retention limit in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. Members noted that other sea turtle mitigation measures have been implemented, circle hooks are mandatory in the fishery and the fishery will have full electronic monitoring implementation.

The current rule limits an unobserved deep-set vessel north of the equator to 25 swordfish per trip when using circle hooks and 10 with other hooks. The restriction originated when the Hawai‘i shallow-set swordfish fishery was closed under a court order more than two decades ago, with the intent of preventing vessels engaging in deep-set fishing from transitioning to shallow-set fishing while at sea. Since the limit was last modified in 2012, deep-set vessels have averaged fewer than five swordfish per trip.

For two other Seafood Executive Order priorities, the SSC identified analyses needed to inform the Council’s management decisions.

For the Hawai‘i shallow-set fishery, PIFSC reported that it is developing a model to estimate loggerhead and leatherback turtle interactions with and without trip limits, with the results to inform updated population assessments. The Committee asked Council and PIFSC staff to coordinate with its protected species working group before the December meeting for updates and continued discussion of the technical analyses that will inform Council decision-making.

For the American Samoa longline fishery, the SSC said if the Council decides to change existing turtle-related gear requirements, the Council should asked PIFSC to use observer data to evaluate potential effects on turtle interactions and on target and nontarget catch, particularly silky and oceanic whitetip sharks. Members highlighted that environmental changes and other basin-wide factors can also influence turtle interaction rates, complicating comparisons of fishery performance before and after gear regulations were implemented.

Reexamining Fishing Access Around Rose Atoll
The Committee also reviewed possible changes to the Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA) around Muliāva (Rose Atoll), which restricts large-vessel fishing between 12 and 50 nautical miles from the atoll.

Members noted the LVPA did not prevent the decline of American Samoa’s smaller longline fleet. The SSC said U.S. purse seiners are unlikely to fish around Rose Atoll because of the area’s small size, although purse-seine fishing there, if it occurred, could potentially affect species targeted by the small-boat fleet. Members pointed out that large longline vessels primarily target albacore and are unlikely to compete substantially with the target species of the small-boat fleet. The SSC also said the South Pacific albacore stock remains healthy even as vessel numbers, participation and catch rates in the American Samoa fleet have declined.

Electronic monitoring being implemented in the longline fleet in 2027 is expected to provide additional information for evaluating fishing activity.

Looking Beyond Pounds and Dollars
Other science presented during the meeting highlighted why the effects of fishery management cannot always be measured through commercial landings alone.

PIFSC’s American Samoa Fish Flow Project found seafood from small-boat, longline and purse-seine fisheries contributes an estimated 560,000 to 859,000 meals to the local community. Small-boat catch flows extensively through families, friends, community leaders and events, with sharing often taking priority over sales. Researchers said some roadside sales, gifted fish and other forms of distribution are incompletely captured by conventional fishery statistics.

“The value of a gifted fish likely exceeds its commercial value,” SSC member Alister Hunt said, questioning how well commercial and recreational fishery statistics capture seafood sharing and its cultural value.

The findings complement work by the SSC’s Social Valuation Working Group, which developed four domains for considering the broader value of fisheries: food security and sovereignty, cultural importance, social cohesion, and well-being and livelihood integration. The Committee endorsed the domains for Council review.

Setting Future Research Priorities
The SSC also completed its ranking of 15 regional fishery research priorities developed with input from the Council’s Advisory Panels and Fishing Industry Advisory Committee. The priorities focus largely on evaluating fishery closures, economic and market dynamics, improving data collection and addressing depredation. The SSC recommended the Council review and adopt the final rankings.

The Committee also recommended 2027–2030 acceptable biological catches totaling 51,510 pounds for nine American Samoa bottomfish species and endorsed the terms of reference and reviewers for the upcoming independent review of the main Hawaiian Islands deep-seven bottomfish stock assessment.

The SSC provides advice to the Council, which will meet virtually Sept. 15-17, 2026, with host sites in Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

How to Join
📍 In Person: (Host Sites)
Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tedi of Samoa Building Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa
Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam
BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St. Garapan, Saipan, CNMI
💻 Online: Via Webex: https://tinyurl.com/208CouncilMtg, Event password: CM208mtg
📜 Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/208th-council-meeting

Scientific and Statistical Committee: James Lynch (chair); Debra Cabrera (University of Guam); Frank Camacho (University of Guam); Courtney Carothers (University of Alaska Fairbanks); Milani Chaloupka (University of Queensland); Cathy Dichmont (Cathy Dichmont Consulting); Erik Franklin (University of Hawai‘i); Shelton Harley (Fisheries Consultant); Jason Helyer (Hawai‘i Div. of Aquatic Resources); Ray Hilborn (University of Washington); Alister Hunt (Finology); Dave Itano (Fisheries Consultant); Keena Leon Guerrero (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Div. of Fish & Wildlife); Domingo Ochavillo (American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources); Graham Pilling (The Pacific Community); Jim Roberts (Anemone Consulting); Justin Suca (University of Hawai‘i); Robin Waples (University of Washington); Charles Littnan (ex-officio) (National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center).

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: Secretary of Commerce appointees from nominees selected by American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam and Hawai‘i governors: Roger Dang, Fresh Island Fish Co. (Hawai‘i) (vice chair); Edgar Feliciano, Feli Fisheries Inc. (American Samoa); Eric Kingma, Hawaii Longline Association (Hawai‘i); Frank Perez, AC Sales and Service, (Guam); Matt Ramsey, Conservation International (Hawai‘i); Jesse Rosario, fisherman (Guam); and Will Sword, American Samoa Power Authority (American Samoa) (vice chair). Designated state officials: Ryan Kanaka‘ole, Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources; Sylvan Igisomar, CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural Resources (vice chair); Nathan Ilaoa, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources (chair); and Chelsa Muña, Guam Dept. of Agriculture (vice chair). Designated federal officials (voting): Sarah Malloy, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. Designated federal officials (nonvoting): RADM Wayne Arguin Jr., U.S. Coast Guard Oceania District; Jeremy Raynal, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Rachel Ryan, U.S. State Dept.; and Barry Thom, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

September 11, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17, 2026, to consider several fishery management actions affecting American Samoa, Hawai‘i and the broader Western Pacific. These actions include fishing access around Muliāva (Rose Atoll), regulations for reopened fisheries in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and changes affecting longline fisheries.

The meeting follows recommendations this week from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Members will consider the SSC’s advice along with those from advisory groups, agencies, fishermen and the public before deciding what actions to advance.

A key decision will be final action on the Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA) around Muliāva in American Samoa. In March, the Council recommended removing commercial fishing prohibitions from 12 to 50 nautical miles (nm) around Muliāva, and President Trump’s June proclamation restored fishing in those monument waters. However, separate LVPA regulations within the Council’s Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan still restrict vessels 50 feet and longer from fishing within 50 nm of Muliāva. The Council will consider whether to maintain the current LVPA, exempt American Samoa longline vessels in the 12- to 50-nm area or reduce the LVPA around Muliāva to 12 nm.

The Council may also take initial action on fishing regulations for the NWHI as commercial fishing opportunities are restored through presidential proclamation. Existing regulations include permitting, monitoring and reporting requirements, vessel and gear restrictions and other management measures developed before the fishery was closed in 2010. The Council will consider whether those regulations should remain in place, be revised or be supplemented with additional measures. The Council may also recommend fishing regulations for the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary through a separate sanctuary process.

Several potential regulatory changes affecting the Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries are also on the agenda. The Council will consider changes to sea turtle measures in the Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries and whether to remove the swordfish retention limit in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. The SSC this week found no scientific basis to retain the swordfish retention limit and identified additional analyses needed to inform potential changes to other longline sea turtle measures.

Another initial action will address annual catch limits for managed American Samoa bottomfish species for 2027–2030. The Council will review updated stock assessment information and SSC recommendations and consider multi-year harvest limits and accountability measures for the fishery.

Deep-sea mining will also be discussed as NOAA consults with the Council on proposed exploration activities in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and other Pacific high seas waters. The Council may provide comments and recommendations on the proposed activities and their potential effects on fisheries and fishery resources.

Other agenda items include electronic monitoring implementation for Hawai‘i and American Samoa longline fisheries; international tuna management issues for bigeye tuna and South Pacific albacore; science and research priorities, including the main Hawaiian Islands deep-seven bottomfish assessment and revisions to the Council’s management-related uncertainty determination process; Inflation Reduction Act project updates; and regional sea turtle recovery activities.

The 208th Council meeting is open to the public, with opportunities for public comment and participation online or from host sites at the Council offices throughout the region.

How to Join
📍 In Person: (Host Sites)
Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii
Tedi of Samoa Building Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa
Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam
BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St. Garapan, Saipan, CNMI
💻 Online: Via Webex: https://tinyurl.com/208CouncilMtg, Event password: CM208mtg
📜 Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/208th-council-meeting

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council manages fisheries in federal waters around American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawai‘i and the Pacific Remote Island Areas.

July 1, 2026 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council welcomed the appointment of Cody Norita as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands obligatory member, Eric Kingma as an at-large member representing Hawaiʻi and the reappointment of Roger Dang as an at-large member representing Hawaiʻi. Their appointments strengthen the Council’s expertise in commercial fishing, fisheries management and regional resource stewardship at a time when domestic seafood producers face increasing competition from imported seafood and foreign fishing fleets.

Hawaii Longline Association Executive Director Kingma brings decades of experience in Hawaiʻi’s commercial fishing industry and management, while Dang continues his service with extensive expertise in fishery operations, seafood distribution and fishery management. Together, they provide firsthand knowledge of seafood harvesting, processing and marketing, as well as the regulatory and economic challenges facing Hawaiʻi’s fishing industry. Their experience also provides valuable perspective on the international fisheries policies and conservation measures that influence Hawaiʻi’s fisheries and seafood markets.

Norita, CNMI assistant fire chief and U.S. Navy veteran, brings leadership in emergency management, interagency coordination and community resilience, along with firsthand experience as a pelagic fisherman. As founder of the CNMI Veterans Fishing Derby, he combines practical fishing knowledge with a strong commitment to sustainable marine resource stewardship and island communities.

“Cody has built a career on discipline and service, from the flight deck of the USS Nimitz to emergency response in the CNMI,” said Council Chair Nathan Ilaoa. “Through his work with the Veterans Fishing Derby, he’s turned that same commitment toward something just as important: connecting people back to the ocean and to each other.”

“Our commercial fishermen operate under extensive conservation, monitoring and reporting requirements, yet they continue to compete against imported seafood that often comes from fisheries operating under different standards,” said Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds. “Eric, Roger and Cody bring diverse experience in commercial fishing, international fisheries, fisheries management and public service that will strengthen the Council’s ability to address the unique opportunities and challenges facing fisheries throughout the U.S. Pacific Islands.”

The appointments come as federal fisheries policy continues to evolve. Recent actions by the Administration, including reopening portions of Pacific Marine National Monuments to commercial fishing, have renewed attention on strengthening domestic seafood production and reducing reliance on imports. NMFS estimates that approximately 80% of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong domestic fishing industry.

Federally managed fisheries throughout the U.S. Pacific Islands — including Hawaiʻi’s pelagic longline, bottomfish and other fisheries — are managed using science-based conservation measures. Fishermen comply with catch reporting, vessel monitoring, observer and electronic monitoring programs, protected species mitigation requirements and international conservation measures. In Hawaiʻi, pelagic fisheries generated nearly $120 million in commercial dockside revenue in 2025, reflecting their significant contribution to the state’s economy and locally landed seafood supply. 

The appointments take effect on August 11. Council members serve staggered three-year terms and may be reappointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to three consecutive terms.

The Council remains committed to conserving fishery resources while supporting sustainable commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries throughout the U.S. Pacific Islands.