May 29, 2026 — The 207th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene in person June 9- 11, 2026, at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center, Fagatogo, AS. A remote participation option will be available by web conference (Webex).
Summary of Action Items at the 207th Council Meeting
1. ACL Specifications for MHI Kona Crab for 2027 to 2030 (Final Action)
The Council will consider specifying multi-year harvest limits for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Kona crab for fishing years 2027-2030. The best scientific information available is the 2019 benchmark stock assessment with catch projection to 2026.
Based on 2019 stock assessment, the maximum sustainable yield was estimated to be at 73,609 pounds and the overfishing limit at 33,989 pounds. In 2019, the Council’s P* (Risk of Overfishing) and SEEM (Social, Economic, Ecological and Management Uncertainty) Working Groups and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) evaluated the scientific, social, ecological, economic, and management uncertainties and recommended a risk level to the Council. The risk of overfishing informs the Council’s consideration of annual catch limit (ACL) specification, and the management uncertainty informs the Council’s consideration in setting the annual catch target (ACT).
Summary of Potential Action Items at the 207th Council Meeting