May 6, 2025 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) is calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to “address severe funding shortfalls that threaten the future of fisheries management.”
However, the council’s calls are coming at a time when the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to slash NOAA’s budget, which funds the council, by 27 percent for the 2026 fiscal year.
Read the full story at SeafoodSource
April 24, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
Recent media responses to President Trump’s April 17 Proclamation to restore access for American fishermen to the waters between 50 to 200 nautical miles (nm) offshore within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM) have raised questions and some confusion about its impact.
The change focuses on three islands—Wake, Johnston and Jarvis—where the President’s Proclamation will allow commercial fishing in the 50-200-nm zone around each of those islands. PIHMNM also includes four other island areas – Howland & Baker Islands; and Palmyra Atoll & Kingman Reef.
The Proclamation does not directly affect existing fishing restrictions protecting the waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands or the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Commercial fishing remains prohibited within 0-50 nm of all seven islands and atolls within the PIHMNM. These nearshore areas include coral reef ecosystems and provide essential habitat for a variety of protected marine species. Green and hawksbill sea turtles, which primarily inhabit lagoons and reefs within these zones, remain protected. Similarly, seabirds, including the dense nesting colonies of red-footed boobies on Palmyra, continue to thrive in areas unaffected by the Proclamation.
The offshore (50-200 nm) waters reopened by the Proclamation are deep, open-ocean environments, ranging from 900 to more than 6,000 meters deep (0.5 – 3.7 miles).
Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds pointed out that “These areas are well beyond the reach of fishing gear or shallow reef-dependent species. U.S. fishing activities targeting migratory tunas occur near the surface (maximum 400 meters) using gear such as deep-set longlines, which do not contact the seafloor or sensitive habitats.”
Since the Monument’s establishment by President Bush on January 12, 2009, all waters within 0–50 nm of each island area have been closed to commercial fishing. This closure was later expanded under President Obama to include the current monument boundaries out to 200 nm. President Trump’s action does not change the Bush monument boundaries.
The Council’s fisheries management framework under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is among the most comprehensive and conservation-based in the world. It includes:
Scientific research supports adaptive, science-based fisheries management as a more effective way to sustain tuna stocks than static marine protected areas (MPAs).
At its core, the Proclamation ensures that American fishermen—not foreign fleets—can responsibly access U.S. waters, while upholding the rigorous conservation standards that have defined U.S. fisheries for decades.
Since 2006, Presidents have used the Antiquities Act to establish five marine national monuments. Four of these monuments are in the Western Pacific Region, encompassing more than half of the U.S. exclusive economic zone surrounding Hawai‘i and the U.S. Pacific Territories and remote islands. Prior to this Proclamation, all monuments prohibited U.S. commercial fishermen from operating in these waters.
For more information, visit the Marine Spatial Management page on the Council website.
Links
United States Exclusive Economic Zones of the US Western Pacific Region map
History of Protected Species Conservation in US Western Pacific Fisheries
Protected Species Conservation Monograph
Milestones of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
April 21, 2025 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
“By doing this, we are giving you back your lives.” President Trump’s words echoed across the Pacific as he signed a Presidential Proclamation to restore access for American fishermen to the waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles offshore within the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIHMNM).
A third of American Samoa’s workforce and 99.5% of its exports are dependent upon access to these waters by U.S. tuna purse seine vessels. Tuna is the most valuable commodity in the Pacific Islands and this Proclamation will help increase U.S. relevance in the Pacific economy. Thirteen U.S. purse seine and approximately 150 U.S. longline vessels compete on the high seas with more than 450 foreign purse seine and more than 1,200 foreign longline vessels in the Western and Central Pacific. In 2023, the catch value was $113 million in the port of Honolulu and $97 million in Pago Pago, ranking sixth and seventh in the nation, respectively (Source: NOAA Fisheries One Stop Shop).
“The Council welcomes the President’s Proclamation that will allow two major U.S. fisheries in the Pacific Ocean back into U.S. waters,” said Taulapapa William Sword, Chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. He went on to say this decision is aligned with the Council’s long-held stance that sustainable U.S. fisheries can coexist with marine conservation goals.
The Proclamation recognizes the effectiveness of U.S. fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and reopens parts of the PIHMNM to commercial fishing. The President recognized that well-regulated, U.S.-flagged commercial fisheries are not only compatible with conservation goals but are also vital to national food security, economic resilience and maritime presence in the Pacific.
The expansion of the Monument in 2014 denied U.S. fishermen access in the entire 200-nautical mile U.S. exclusive economic zone around Johnston and Wake Atolls and Jarvis Island. It did little to prevent overfishing of highly migratory species like tuna, which move freely across international waters. Meanwhile, foreign fleets—often poorly regulated and heavily subsidized—continued to fish near the monument boundaries where they compete with well-managed U.S. tuna fisheries.
This action restores access to fishing grounds of the Hawai‘i longline fishery, one of the most sustainable and highly regulated fisheries in the world that supplies fresh bigeye and yellowfin tuna to Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland. These stocks have been maintained above sustainable levels with little risk of overfishing.
This region is sustainably managed under the Council’s Pacific Pelagic and Pacific Remote Island Areas Fishery Ecosystem Plans and associated federal regulations. U.S. longline fisheries have quotas, are required to report their fishing activity and catch, use real-time satellite-based vessel monitoring systems, carry federal observers and use specific gear to minimize impacts to protected species. The Council is also developing new measures for crew training for protected species handling and release and modernizing the fishery’s monitoring program to include camera-based electronic monitoring.
“The Council remains committed to sustainably managing ocean resources while ensuring that U.S. fishermen are treated equitably in federal policies,” said Kitty Simonds, Council executive director. “Waters from 0 to 50 nautical miles offshore and the corals, fish and sea turtles there continue to be protected by the Council, NOAA Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and are off limits to commercial fishing.” She added that “this is a positive step for our island fishing communities, local economies and the broader Pacific region!”
For more information, visit the Marine Spatial Management page on the Council website.
Maps:
United States Exclusive Economic Zones of the US Western Pacific Region
Fleet Sizes of Longline and Purse-Seine Vessels in the Western and Central Pacific (Oct. 31, 2024)
Fishing Effort in the Pacific Ocean (Dec. 1, 2021 – March 1, 2022)
December 18, 2024 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) ended its 201st meeting on a hopeful note, inspired by the upcoming change in the Federal administration. The Council found that the incoming administration provides a chance to make U.S. fisheries in the Pacific great again.
After finally achieving an increase in longline bigeye tuna quotas last year, in 2024, U.S. fisheries in the Pacific were once again ignored and suffered a loss in striped marlin quota at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The decision by the WCPFC requires the U.S. to set a catch limit of 228.4 metric tons annually from 2025 to 2027, a decrease of 50% from the previous limit.
Kitty Simonds, Executive Director of the Council, said that she was “disappointed at the uneven playing field,” noting that the U.S. is the only fleet or country taking a reduction. She suggested that the impact of the rule will decrease the value of marlin and increase waste in the fishery.
The Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act (Public Law 14-327), states that “The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, in the course of negotiations, shall seek— (1) to minimize any disadvantage to United States fishermen in relation to other members of the Commission.” Archie Soliai, Council vice Chair, said that the US government can and must do better to advocate for the best interests of its territories. Our future, our livelihoods, and the economic stability of our communities depend on it.”
Nate Ilaoa, American Samoa businessman, reminded the Council that “American Samoa has a signed contract with the U.S. in the form of the Deeds of Cession” referencing the document from April 17, 1900 that the U.S. signed with the Matai (chiefs) agreeing to protect and look after the interest of American Samoa.
With a change in administration, the Council plans to take the opportunity to write to the incoming administration and outline the issues with existing federal and international conservation and management measures. Simonds said that decisions from the Federal government have continued to negatively impact the U.S. Pacific Island fishing communities.
To improve U.S. fisheries, at this meeting, the Council also deliberated on implementation approaches for establishing protected species handling training requirements for Hawaii and American Samoa longline fisheries. The main goals are to reduce post-release mortality by addressing protected species handling and release through specific training to crew members that can assist during hauling operations. The recommendation specified a 1-2 year certification period for crew, maintaining the annual workshop certification for vessel owners and operators, and allowing flexibility for crew certifications to be met through owner/operator workshops.
“Considering high turnover, specifically for American Samoa, it is an ongoing challenge,” remarked American Samoa Council Member Archie Soliai. He suggested that “it makes [more] sense to have training for everyone together.”
Also, the Council advanced plans to transition electronic monitoring (EM) from a research initiative to an operational management tool. Recognizing the challenges posed by declining human observer coverage (due to overbudget costs), the Council outlined a phased approach to EM implementation that includes authorizing EM systems to monitor protected species interactions over three years as an optional program and establishing regional standards and a robust data review process.
“While the U.S. fisheries have suffered setbacks in recent years,” said Will Sword, Council Chairman, “we hope that these measures will continue the Council’s track record of encouraging sustainable fishing and perpetuating Pacific Island traditions and culture,”
Additional Council Actions
Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan: The Council recommended increasing the annual catch limit to 34,500 pounds, with a post-season accountability measure to rebuild stocks by 2031. This measure means if the average catch over the most recent three years exceeds the limit, the following year’s limit will be reduced by the overage to prevent overfishing.
American Samoa Bottomfish Management: The Council recommended removing the Tier 6 acceptable biological catch control rule from the current revision of the American Samoa bottomfish management unit species action. Instead, the Council will develop amendments to all its Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs) to incorporate the Tier 6 approach, ensuring this flexible, data-limited management tool can be applied consistently across all fisheries under its jurisdiction.
North Pacific Striped Marlin: Initial steps were taken to set a catch limit of 228.4 metric tons annually from 2025 to 2027, aligning with international conservation measures. The new measure cuts in half a guaranteed U.S. catch from the previous measure of 457 mt.
For more information, visit www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars
December 10, 2024 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), which has authority over the stewardship of fisheries in the state and territorial waters of Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands, is pushing back against a proposal to list giant clams in the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“I feel NMFS is just ramming this through the system,” said WPRFMC Council Member Sylvian Igisomar, who is also the chair of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
December 4, 2024 — American Samoa’s Senate President and Speaker of the House wrote in late November on behalf of the Legislature to express to President Joseph R. Biden their concern and opposition to the proposed expansion of the National Marine Sanctuary within the Pacific Remote Islands.
“As you consider potential actions during the concluding months of your administration, we urge you to resist all proposals to create or expand any Marine National Monument within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Western Pacific,” they wrote.
They believe that as ocean ecosystems face increasingly rapid changes, the U.S. fisheries management system — particularly through the oversight of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council — provides a stronger and more enduring framework for sustainable, science-based conservation measures than does the Antiquities Act.
“The Council has effectively managed these natural resources for our region, balancing ecological priorities with the economic needs of the local communities that depend on fishing for survival.”
December 12, 2023 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council yesterday emphasized its solid position on fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) National Marine Sanctuary. The Council determined the existing fishing regulations under the current structure meet the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary and recommended to NOAA that additional fishing regulations are not necessary.
The Council’s existing regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) established comprehensive protection since the 1980s and continues to provide long-lasting conservation and management for the PRI fishery ecosystem, habitat and resources.1 Pelagic fisheries in the PRI are vital to the economy and culture of American Samoa, as well as other pelagic fisheries including the Hawai‘i longline fishery.
“We know that the impacts to those fisheries would be devastating to Fa‘a Samoa [the Samoan way of life],” said Council Chair Will Sword. The economic analysis conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center shows a direct correlation to these benefits.2 A reduction in fish landings due to restricted access will result in reduced economic benefits.
Archie Soliai, Council vice chair for American Samoa, stressed that the MSA National Standards require the Council to manage for optimum yield, best scientific information available, and avoid unnecessary duplication. He said, “There is nothing optimum about closing the entire exclusive economic zone to fishing by adding additional layers of bureaucracy, when the best science says there is no impact to the stock.”
Council members expressed their frustration with the sanctuary designation process, and the difficulties in making a decision when there was insufficient clarity. “I think there is a misunderstanding that all of the fisheries in this area are not already protected,” said Roger Dang, Council vice chair for Hawai‘i. “Is there a need for more regulations when the current management under the MSA already aligns with the proposed sanctuary’s goals?”
The Council’s Pacific Remote Island Areas and Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plans comprehensively conserve and manage these fisheries, the marine biodiversity, and ecosystem services they provide. These management plans have been in place for decades to prevent negative impacts to fish stocks, habitat, bycatch and protected species.
The Council will send its decision to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries by Dec. 20, 2023, and will provide the final document with the analysis, rationale and justification for the determination by Jan. 19, 2024.
December 8, 2023 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet next week to discuss its final recommendations for fishing regulations in the proposed Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary (PRINMS). At its last meeting in September, Council members initially found that existing regulations may already meet the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary. This decision was based on a recommendation from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) after a thorough review of existing rules and regulations in the Council PRI Fishery Ecosystem Plan and available data from NOAA.
For commercial fishing on pelagic stocks, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) presented data indicating that fishing in the PRI has a minimal impact on tuna stocks. The catch in the PRI accounts for less than 1% of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for skipjack and yellowfin tuna and only 3.5% of the MSY for bigeye tuna. More importantly, these tuna stocks are neither overfished nor subject to overfishing.
Last week, the SSC discussed at its meeting a NOAA PIFSC report on the Economic Contributions of U.S. Commercial Fisheries in American Samoa that documents hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs that are directly or indirectly supported by the industry. The Committee found no scientific evidence to support additional fishing rules in the proposed sanctuary and cautioned against causing unintended negative impacts on the U.S. fleet and the underserved community of American Samoa.
The existing Council decision-making process under the Magnuson-Stevens Act allows for shared stewardship with state and territorial partners, as well as domestic and international partnerships in managing highly migratory pelagic fish species such as Pacific tunas. The Council has been in the forefront of engaging with indigenous and traditional communities in American Samoa, Hawai‘i, Guam and the CNMI to utilize traditional knowledge in modern management practices.
The Council has long implemented enduring and comprehensive fishing regulations in the Western Pacific, such as a region-wide total prohibition on ‘destructive’ gears in 1986 to protect habitat, vulnerable species and biodiversity.
The Council will discuss and may take action on annual catch limits for the American Samoa bottomfish fishery for 2024-2026, a revision to the Hawai‘i Fishery Ecosystem Plan regarding the essential fish habitat designation for gray jobfish (uku), and bigeye tuna catch limits and allocation for the U.S. Pacific Territories.
The Council meets next week virtually Dec. 12-13, 2023, with host sites at 1164 Bishop St., Ste. 1400, Honolulu, HI; Tedi of Samoa Bldg. Ste. 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam; BRI Bldg. Ste. 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/event/197th-council-meeting.
April 6, 2023 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
Last week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s completed its 194th meeting in the Mariana Islands. In Guam, the meeting began with a cultural blessing ceremony led by Para I Prubechu’n I Taotao’ta. The members called on ancestral spirits to guide the meeting participants as they discussed international and national issues affecting local communities, saying the ocean is our wealth and connects everyone.
The Honorable Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero opened the meeting expressing concern for increasing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region.
“[IUU] vessels pose a threat not just to our national security, but also to our local fishing industries and up-and-coming industries,” said Leon Guerrero. “Left unchecked, this kind of fishing and associated labor abuses undermine our economic competitiveness, national security, fisheries sustainability, and the livelihoods and human rights of fishers around the world, and will exacerbate the environmental and socioeconomic effects of climate change.”
The Governor spoke to President Biden’s recent announcement about designating a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA), noting it threatens Pacific Islanders’ way of life.
“I echo [CNMI] Governor Palacios that this is a matter that demands our respect and fluid communication. I don’t believe that any of us are against the intentions, but there are impacts hanging on those intentions. Impacts that fail to consider our food security or our fishing traditions. Pacific Islanders eat two to four times more fish than people in other nations, with most of the fish we eat from our own waters and reefs. We also contribute more than 30% of the global market for tuna.”
The proposal would have many unintended socioeconomic consequences and conflicts with the President’s Executive Orders promoting equity and environmental justice (EEJ). Fisheries is the leading economic driver for underserved communities in the Pacific. A new sanctuary in the PRIA to help meet the Biden Administration’s “America the Beautiful” 30×30 conservation goal puts a disproportionate burden on U.S. Pacific Islanders, as 53% of U.S. waters in the western Pacific are already closed to fishing through Marine National Monuments.
“When we started hearing about recognition of EEJ issues in our government, I thought it would provide our region with acknowledgement, but in reality it’s only a paper commitment,” said Council member and University of Guam Professor Judith Guthertz. “Our territories have a long history of unfulfilled commitments. We need to feel our efforts are respected and show that our input counts.”
Diminished U.S. fisheries would severely decrease U.S. influence in the Pacific. In September 2022, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee found the proposal to expand the current Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument boundaries lacked supporting data and would provide limited conservation benefits. A 2018 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) report also said permanent settlements in the PRIA were unlikely due to the vulnerability of the low-lying areas to storms, lack of freshwater sources and inability to grow crops on the islands.
The Council will request the National Ocean Service (NOS) meet with the Governors of Guam, the CNMI and American Samoa to describe the sanctuary designation process.
Territorial Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits
The framework that establishes bigeye tuna longline catch and allocation limits for the territories requires an annually specified catch limit to transfer catch from any territory to U.S. longline vessels based out of Hawai‘i. The Council approved setting an allocation limit of bigeye tuna from each territory to U.S. longline vessels, without setting a catch limit. This allocation limit would be up to 1,500 metric tons per territory, in effect from 2024 to 2026.
Council members emphasized the importance of fishing agreements between the territories and the Hawai‘i-based fleet. These have often been the sole source of funds for fishery development in the Marine Conservation Plans of the territories. MCPs are developed locally to meet the needs of each territory and approved by the respective Governor and subsequently approved by the Secretary of Commerce.
Council member Manny Dueñas of the Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association expressed frustration over the low U.S. catch limit and that territories have to rely on these agreements to fund fishery development. “We are Pacific Islanders, just like the people the U.S. government spend hundreds of millions on through the Tuna Treaty, Economic Assistance Agreement, and the Compact of Free Association,” said Dueñas. “Why can’t we get just a fraction of that to support our fisheries?”
Council member Archie Soliai of American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources noted the disadvantages that U.S. Pacific fisheries and the territories encounter. “Equity! Don’t talk to me about equity. We got no equity. Why are we putting limits on our fisheries when other Pacific Island countries with the same status do not have any limits? This is an unlevel playing field for U.S. fishery stakeholders.”
Fishing Regulations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
The Council heard from NOS that its December 2022 action allowing for cost recovery including “sale” in a federal fishing permit in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is unlikely to meet the goals and objectives of a proposed national marine sanctuary in the area. Many Council members remarked that sale would allow cultural perpetuation. Council member Dueñas said, “We are being asked to sacrifice our culture for the rest of the world [with the Marine National Monuments] and perpetuating culture is worth more.”
The Council said disallowing sales would continue to disenfranchise the Native Hawaiian community. Council member and American Samoa noncommercial fisherman Will Sword commented, “Cost should not be a factor when trying to feed your own people.” Council member and Hawai‘i charter boat captain McGrew Rice added, “Unless one has the funds and can afford it, it’s the only way anyone can go up there.”
The Council recommended fishermen who obtain a Native Hawaiian Subsistence Fishing Practices Permit be allowed to request cost recovery through the sale of catch associated with their fishing trip to the Monument Expansion Area (MEA). Council members believed that limited cost recovery may be conducted on a small scale within the community, consistent with MEA’s prohibition on commercial fishing. The recommendation allows NMFS’s Regional Administrator to review a permit application that includes a statement of why cost recovery is necessary along with estimated costs. The Regional Administrator can then make a decision after consultation with the Council and monument management partners (NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the State of Hawai‘i). The application would also be available for public review for no less than 30 days.
June 30, 2022 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
Council Family – This topic was discussed at the most recent advisory group and Council meetings. As you know, the Western Pacific Region is recognized for community development and education and training programs in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and yet have been underfunded for many years. NMFS will host four webinars – see details below. At the June 30 session, NMFS Pacific Islands Region staff will focus on Pacific Islands Regional issues and will be on hand to answer questions. We encourage you all to participate.
-Kitty Simonds
The following was originally released by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) May 6, 2022.
NOAA Fisheries shared its first-ever draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy and invited public comments through August 19 (*extended to August 31*). In addition to accepting written comments, we will host four webinars on the strategy, where comments will be accepted. Additional in-person meetings and opportunities to comment via phone will be announced on a rolling basis, once those plans are finalized.
“NOAA Fisheries is focused on serving all communities more equitably and effectively, and this strategy will provide the framework to do just that,” said Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Janet Coit.
“We are committed to advancing equity and environmental justice, including equal treatment, opportunities, and environmental benefits for all people and communities, while building on continuing efforts and partnerships with underserved and underrepresented communities,” she added.
Goals and Objectives
The agency identified three overarching, long-term goals in the strategy. They are:
The agency also identified six short-term objectives in the strategy. They are:
This national strategy is the result of guidance from recent Executive Orders, the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, the Department of Commerce’s Equity Action Plan, NOAA’s Climate Council and agency leadership, enthusiastic staff participation, and a clear and growing need indicated by underserved communities. The strategy also builds on our previous equity and environmental justice efforts to provide guidance for incorporating and prioritizing EEJ in ongoing and future activities in support of our mission.
“While we are making progress in addressing equity and environmental justice, we know that we have much more work to do to embed EEJ into our day-to-day efforts,” said NOAA Fisheries Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, Sam Rauch, who also convened and led the agency’s EEJ Working Group. “By focusing on these goals and objectives we will provide more equitable stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources and their habitat.”
How You Can Help
NOAA Fisheries’ science, conservation, and management activities serve a diverse array of communities across the United States and territories. However, not all communities have equal opportunities and access to agency-led services. Through this call for public comment, we seek assistance in several areas, including help to identify:
How to Provide Comment
You can provide comments online. You can also comment at webinars, by phone, and at in-person meetings. The webinars will be held on:
(Visit this page and click on “Register for June 30 webinar”)**** (link corrected)
(Visit this page and click on “Register for July 19 webinar”) (link corrected)
****At this session, NMFS Pacific Islands Region staff will focus on Pacific Island Regional issues and will be on hand to answer questions.
Achieving Our Goals
To achieve our initial equity and environmental justice goals, each of the agency’s national program offices and geographic regions will incorporate EEJ into a step-down implementation plan. These plans will be specific and responsive to the needs of underserved communities and allows for the input of underserved communities. Each program, science center, and regional office will set equity and environmental justice as a Priority Area or milestone in annual strategic planning starting in 2023. And, the agency’s step-down implementation plans will include metrics describing equity and environmental justice actions. Our progress will be publicly reported annually in an EEJ Scorecard.
“To be clear, this strategy does not endorse business as usual and is not a rebranding of existing activities. Rather, this national strategy describes the path that NOAA Fisheries will take to incorporate EEJ into the vital services we provide to all stakeholders,” said Coit.