Saving Seafood

Scientists Set Acceptable Biological Catches for Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish, Recommend New Stock Assessment for Mariana and American Samoa Bottomfish

March 6, 2020 — 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 135th meeting today in Honolulu. Key outcomes addressed the Mariana and American Samoa Archipelago bottomfish fisheries. The Council will consider and may take action on the SSC outcomes and other issues when it meets March 10 to 12 at the YWCA Atherton Hall, 1040 Richards St., Honolulu. For more information on these meetings, including a Fishers Forum on Hawai’i fisheries the evening of March 10, go to http://www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars/ or contact the Council at info@wpcouncil.org or (808) 522-8220.

Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish Fisheries: The SSC set annual acceptable biological catches of bottomfish at 27,000 pounds in Guam and 84,000 pounds in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for fishing years 2020-2023. The specifications are based on a 2019 stock assessment by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), which found bottomfish to be overfished on Guam but not in the CNMI and the fisheries in both areas to be operating at sustainable levels of catch and effort. Previous stock assessments had determined that the stocks in both areas were healthy. The acceptable biological catches reflect what can be removed while allowing the stock to reproduce at levels of maximum sustainable yield. Based on creel survey estimates, Guam’s commercial and noncommercial bottomfish fisheries landed 27,781 pounds in 2016; 22,962 pounds in 2017; and 32,751 pounds in 2018; and CNMI landed 49,570 pounds in 2016; 46,290 pounds in 2017; and 858 pounds in 2018. Next week, the Council will develop annual catch limits for the fisheries based on the acceptable biological catch levels and management uncertainties. Catch limits may be equal to or less than the acceptable biological catch specifications.

American Samoa and Mariana Archipelago Managed Bottomfish Species: The SSC considered potential alternative groupings for managed bottomfish species caught in federal waters (i.e., seaward of state waters, which are 0 to 3 miles from shore) based on available biological and fishery data and the feasibility of conducting stock assessments. Currently, the bottomfish species in each island area are grouped together as a single bottomfish complex. During discussions, it was noted that the American Samoa stock assessment focused on the heavily exploited area around Tutuila and less around the more lightly exploited areas around the offshore seamounts and the Manu’a islands due to the way the data was collected. It was also noted that careful attention should be given to the definition of a bottomfishing trip, which currently is having bottomfishing gear onboard, because hand crank and electric reels are used for bottomfishing and for trolling. The SSC recommended that the Council request PIFSC to initiate a new benchmark stock assessment and to explore other modeling approaches and data sets aside from the creel surveys and commercial receipt books. An SSC member designee will work with PIFSC and Council staff to explore the deep and shallow species groupings, trip and gear definitions, and available data sources.

WPRFMC: Council Pays Tribute to Satya N. Nandan

March 3, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council adds its condolences and gratitude to the family of Satya N. Nandan and to the Republic of Fiji on the passing last week of that country’s first diplomat to the United Nations.

Nandan’s long list of accomplishments includes not only playing an integral role in finalizing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, chairing the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Stocks (1993-95) and serving for nearly a quarter century as the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority but also serving as chairman of the Multilateral High-Level Conference (MHLC) on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific. As the local organizer of four of the seven MHLC sessions hosted by the United States, the Council worked intimately with Nandan. His wisdom, experience and diplomatic demeanor led to the successful signing of the Honolulu Convention on September 5, 2000, and the creation of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

“Nandan’s legacy is protection of the ocean and ocean communities worldwide, from the substrate to the highly migratory species, especially tuna, one of our planet’s greatest resources,” noted Kitty M. Simonds, Council executive director.

More about Nandan’s work with the MHLC can be found at http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Monograph-2_2010_WCPFC_web-final.pdf.

Scientists to Address 2020 Bottomfish and Bigeye Tuna Catches for US Pacific Territories

March 2, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Scientists from throughout the Pacific will meet March 3 to 5 in Honolulu to discuss acceptable catch of bottomfish in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and catch and allocation limits for longline-caught bigeye tuna in Guam, CNMI and American Samoa. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400. The meeting is open to the public.

Guam and CNMI Bottomfish Fisheries: The SSC is scheduled to set the acceptable biological catches (ABCs) for the Territories of Guam and CNMI bottomfish fisheries for fishing year 2020-2023. The ABCs will be based on the 2019 stock assessment of the fisheries, which is the best scientific information available. The assessment found the Guam bottomfish to be overfished but the fishery is not experiencing overfishing, and the CNMI to be neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing. The ABCs will be based on the overfishing limit (OFL) reflected in the stock assessment minus any scientific uncertainties and will be used by the Council to set the annual catch limits (ACLs) for the fisheries. The Council is scheduled to meet March 10 to 12 in Honolulu to recommend the ACLs and address other matters.

Guam, CNMI and American Samoa Longline-Caught Bigeye Tuna: Conservation and management measures for Western and Central Pacific bigeye tuna are developed by the international Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The WCPFC has developed specific national quotas for longline-caught bigeye tuna for six member countries, including the United States. However, no quotas are specified for small island developing states (SIDS) and territories (including American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI) in recognition of their aspirations to develop their fisheries. Although not required by the Commission, the Council developed quotas for the US Pacific Territories. Also established was a management framework that allows the US Territories to allocate a portion of their catch limits through Specified Fishing Agreements with US vessels permitted under the Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the purposes of responsible fisheries development in the Territories. The current catch limits are 2,000 metric tons (mt) per Territory of which up to 1,000 mt can be allocated. The SSC will review the bigeye longline catch and allocation limits and may make recommendations to the Council to adjust them.

Other items on the SSC agenda

  • American Samoa, Guam and CNMI Bottomfish Management: The original Bottomfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Western Pacific Region listed 20 fish species that dominated the landings, which included both shallow and deep-water species. The bottomfish were grouped into a single complex for management purposes. In 2009, the bottomfish management unit species (BMUS) were amended as part of the restructuring of the Council’s FMPs into place-based Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs). American Samoa, Guam and CNMI each had its own BMUS list, which continued to be treated as a complex for management purposes. The BMUS lists for the territories were most recently revised in 2018 when some MUS were designated as Ecosystem Component Species, which do not require ACLs. The territory bottomfish fisheries have evolved over time, which may warrant further amendments of the BMUS.
  • Rebuilding Plan: The release of the 2019 benchmark stock assessment for the territory bottomfish fishery triggered the development of a rebuilding plan for the American Samoa and Guam bottomfish that were considered overfished. This is the first rebuilding plan that will be developed for the region. The SSC is scheduled to discuss its role in the rebuilding plan development process and determine the scientific information needed to develop the plan.
  • Electronic Reporting: The SSC will review and make recommendations to the Council on reporting requirements, cost allocation, and data management of electronic reporting in the Hawaii longline fishery.

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets March 10 to 12, 2020, at the YWCA Atherton Hall, 1040 Richards St., Honolulu. For agendas and briefing documents for the SSC, Council and related advisory body meetings, go to http://www.wpcouncil.org/public-meetings/ or contact the Council at info@wpcouncil.org or call (808) 522-8220.

Reviewers Approve Stock Assessment for Hawai’i Gray Snapper, Emphasize the Need for Accurate Recreational Catch Data

March 2, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

In Hawai’i, consumers prefer deep-water snappers for their red and pink color, which has cultural significance especially around the winter holidays. However, in May and June, fishermen switch to target the less desired, but just as delicious, gray snapper, known locally as uku (Aprion virescens). During these months, uku are found in abundance at Penguin Bank, located between Moloka’i and O’ahu, where they likely aggregate to spawn.

The good news about uku in the main Hawaiian Islands is the stock is healthy. In fact, scientists at NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) recently determined that Hawai’i fishermen can continue to harvest uku without harming the stock’s ability to maintain its maximum sustainable yield. The PIFSC stock assessment for uku was reviewed this week by the Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) panel, which ascertained that the assessment is sound and based on the best scientific information available.

Erik Franklin, PhD, University of Hawai’i at Manoa and chair of the WPSAR panel, presented the results today in Honolulu to a group of interested scientists, fishery managers and fishermen at the office of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, where the five-day review was held. The WPSAR panel also included Yong Chen, PhD, University of Maine, and Yan Jiao, PhD, Virginia Tech. Gray snapper is a species managed offshore by the Council in both Hawai’i and American Samoa, where it is known as asoama.

The review contained recommendations to improve future stock assessments. “It can’t be emphasized enough, the importance of getting accurate recreational data for future assessments,” Franklin said.

Marc Nadon, one of the PIFSC stock assessment scientists, said the uku assessment utilized commercial catch data from 1948 to 2018. Since recreational catch data for the fishery is available only since about 2003, the scientists used data from 2003 to 2007 and applied it to the human population trend in Hawai’i to recreate the noncommercial data for the same period as the commercial data.

Recreational catch in Hawai’i is captured voluntarily for state waters (0 to 3 miles offshore) through the Hawai’i Marine Recreational Fishing Survey, run by the State of Hawai’i, with assistance from NOAA Fisheries. In federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore), noncommercial permits and reporting are required for bottomfish but only a few fishermen have complied.

Uku is found in depths of 0 to 600 feet and is caught mainly by deep-sea and inshore handline and by trolling. Look for it in the markets this spring as an alternative to mahimahi and ono (wahoo) while you wait for ahi (yellowfin tuna) to return to the islands in the summer.

For more information, contact the Council at (808) 522-8220 or by email at info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.

WPRFMC: Kudos to the Coast Guard for Combatting IUU Fishing in the Western Pacific Region

February 28, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Taotasi Archie Soliai and Kitty M. Simonds, chair and executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, laud the US Coast Guard’s recent success in combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in the Western Pacific Region.

On Monday, the Maritime Executive reported that for the first time since 2012, the Coast Guard’s Honolulu-based 14th District intercepted foreign vessels illegally operating within the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters off Guam and Hawai’i.

“While regulation compliance among US fishers is near 97 percent, some of the lowest policed areas, such as the waters in the Western and Central Pacific, are responsible for the highest percentage of significant violations,” said Lt. Jason Holstead. He reported that the Coast Guard has addressed foreign incursions in the EEZs of partner countries and IUU fishing on the high seas but not in the US EEZ in the past eight years.

The interdiction of the foreign vessels in the US EEZ came on the heels of last week’s 2020 State of the United States Coast Guard address delivered by Admiral Karl Schultz. “China, with the world’s largest distant water fishing fleet, is one of the worst predatory fishing offenders, engaging in what we call illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing–or IUU,” Schultz said. “This is far more than just about conservation and sustainability, this is a national security challenge warranting a clear response.”

Schultz noted that many Pacific Island Countries, “and even American island territories, lack the capability and capacity to fully police their sovereign waters …”

“To enhance maritime domain awareness across the Pacific Ocean, we are fostering a partnership with Global Fishing Watch,” Schultz said. Additionally, the Coast Guard is “on track to take delivery of the first two 154-foot Fast Response Cutters to be home-ported in Guam” by the end of the year, Schultz added. They will replace 40-year-old vessels and strengthen the Coast Guard’s capabilities in the region.

“We have advised the government over the years that China is an aggressive player in Oceania in search of natural gas, minerals, fish and other raw materials,” said Simonds. “This aggressiveness is in part demonstrated by its heavy subsidizing of its fishing fleets.” According to Marine Policy (vol. 68), in 2013 the Chinese central government spent $6.5 billion on fisheries subsidies. In recent years, China’s South Pacific albacore catch has increased to 40 to 50 percent of the total catch for all countries, while the catch by American Samoa has decreased to 2 percent of the total catch, which has jeopardized the local albacore longline fleet. In response, the Council recommended allowing the local fleet access to waters from 12 to 50 nautical miles of shore in the US EEZ around American Samoa. “It is good to see that our government has begun to recognize the threat to our nation’s fisheries in the Western Pacific,” Simonds said.

Sean Martin, president of the Hawaii Longline Association, noted that China’s presence is in the Eastern Pacific as well. It recently received a quota for 6,000 metric tons (mt) of longline-caught bigeye tuna transferred from Japan. Korea also received a 2,000-mt quota transfer from Japan. “One third of Hawai’i effort is in Eastern Pacific,” Martin said, noting that 8,000 mt is equivalent to the total annual bigeye tuna catch of the Hawai’i longline fleet in both the Western and Central Pacific and Eastern Pacific combined.

The issue of international tuna management and enforcement is on the agenda for the Council’s 181st meeting, which convene March 10-12 in Honolulu. Prior to this meeting, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet next week to review the scientific aspects of the topics on the Council’s agenda. For more information on these meetings, go to http://www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars/ or contact the Council at (808) 522-8220 or by email at info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.

National Listening Session on Fisheries Management Held in Honolulu – No Reauthorization of Fisheries Management Act Expected This Year, Branding of US Produced Seafood Discussed

February 24, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The seventh stop of a nationwide listening tour on fisheries management issues was held today in Honolulu. Initiated by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Waters, Ocean and Wildlife, the session was hosted by Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawai’i) with Huffman participating by Skype. Members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the Hawai’i seafood industry were among the invited panelists. Their statements echoed the general consensus nationally that America’s primary fishing law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, is overall doing its job and doing it well.

“Hawai’i seafood is globally recognized for its high quality and comprehensive management regime, built largely using the MSA framework,” noted Michael Goto, a member of the Council and the auction manager and assistant vice president of United Fishing Agency, the nation’s only daily tuna auction. “Every fish that is sold through the auction can be traced back to the vessel, contributing to the traceability of our seafood. We are confident when we say ‘every pound can be found,’ which I know for a fact can’t be said for foreign vessels supplying our same market.”

“The Hawai’i longline fleet is globally considered a golden standard in pelagic fisheries,” said Ed Watamura, Council vice chair (Hawai’i). “Through the MSA process, the Council has developed and implemented measures that have formed the basis of international standards for regional fishery management organizations, such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.”

Watamura also noted the success of the MSA requirement for annual catch limits in the Hawai’i bottomfish fishery. “The MSA manages fish stocks throughout their range. Thus, the fishery is jointly managed by the State of Hawai’i and the Council through an annual catch limit (ACL) as prescribed in the MSA. … Because ACL management is working, the State has opened several bottomfish restricted fishing areas, a move supported by fishermen and scientists alike.”

“While being a major contributing industry to Hawai’i, the [longline] fishery is minor compared to international fisheries for tuna operating in the Pacific; for example, the fishery lands less than 2 percent of the total Pacific tuna catch,” said Eric Kingma, executive director, Hawaii Longline Association. “International tuna management is a highly politicized arena and the US needs to be doing more to protect its tuna fisheries,” he added.

Council Member Anthony Benavente, who serves as the secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI), said the territory is “very supportive of the bottom-up approach in managing fisheries as all stakeholders and interested residents have a chance to participate.” He added, “Despite the success of the MSA in the Western Pacific, the Council has had to deal with extraneous conservation efforts that complicate the management decision-making process, as well as hurt US fishing communities and fishers.” Examples provided include “the unilateral designation of numerous National Marine Monuments throughout the Western Pacific region,” recent legislation that prohibits Hawai’i and the US Pacific territories from marketing their sustainably caught US billfish off island, and current legislation passed by the House that would prohibit the sale of fins from sustainably and legally caught sharks.

During the discussion period, Case said MSA reauthorization would likely not occur this year, but he heard the common thread that our fisheries are better managed than other fisheries and asked what could be done. Kingma noted the Country of Origin Label is already required but hard to find and not required for US domestic seafood. He suggested that something easily recognizable like a US flag on US seafood could be an indicator of sustainably managed seafood.

For the full statements of the Council and industry members, go to www.wpcouncil.org/msa-testimony. For comments from members of other Regional Fishery Management Councils during earlier listening sessions, go to http://www.fisherycouncils.org/msa-reauthorization.

Summary of Action Items for the 181st Meeting of the WPRFMC

February 7, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The 181st meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene March 10-12, 2020, at the Laniakea YWCA, Fuller Hall, Honolulu, Hawai’i. The Council will consider and may take action on the issues summarized below, including any public comments on them. Click here for a complete PDF version of the 181st Action Item Summary Memo.

  1. Specifying Annual Catch Limits for the Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish Fishery
  2. Options Paper to Amend the Bottomfish Management Unit Species in American Samoa and the Mariana Archipelago
  3. US Territory Longline Bigeye Catch/Allocation Limits
  4. Marine Conservation Plans for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Pacific Remote Island Areas/Hawai’i

Written public comments should be received by the Council’s executive director by 5 p.m. (Hawai’i time), Thursday, March 5, 2020, by postal mail, fax or email as indicated below. After March 5, it is the submitter’s responsibility to provide at least 40 copies of the written comment to Council staff at the Council meeting.

Read the full release here

2020 Public Scoping on Hawaiʻi Pelagic Small-Boat Fisheries

January 31, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will hold public scoping meetings on Hawai‘i’s pelagic small-boat fisheries from Feb. 4 to 13 throughout the Hawaiian Islands. If you fish more than 3 miles offshore (i.e., beyond state waters) for open-water species (e.g., not bottomfish) and use any gear/method besides longlines, these meetings should be of interest to you.

Public scoping meetings provide fishermen and other interested members of the public an opportunity to bring to the Council’s attention those issues important to the management of their fisheries. The Council is currently assessing the effectiveness of the monitoring for the Hawai‘i pelagic small-boat fisheries. Data collected is used to develop annual reports on the performance of the fisheries and the status of the fish stocks that they catch. The Council uses these reports to determine management measures, research needs and fishery development projects to support. The meetings will provide more in-depth details on the process and provide an opportunity for you to give oral or written comments on your thoughts about issues regarding Hawai’i’s pelagic small-boat fisheries and management of them.

A summary report of the meetings will be provided to the Council at its 181st meeting on March 9-12, 2020, in Honolulu, where the Council may make recommendations for management as needed.

For the public scoping meeting schedule, see below or click here for the flyer. Additional information will be posted on the Council’s website at www.wpcouncil.org/hawaiismallboatfishery, so please check there for scoping materials. If you have questions, contact the Council at (808) 522-8220 or email info@wpcouncil.org.

Come be a part of the decision-making process for your fisheries!

Hawaiian swordfish catches to recommence after loggerhead-related closure

January 21, 2020 — The US state of Hawaii’s swordfish fishery is expected to land its first catch in nine months this weekend (Jan. 18-19), after closing on Mar. 19, 2019 upon reaching the loggerhead turtle interaction cap.

The fishery produces about 55% of America’s domestic swordfish and supplies 14% of the total US swordfish market.

“Without Hawaii swordfish, US markets will increase their dependence on foreign suppliers,” said Kitty Simonds, executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC), which manages the fishery.

“Our pelagic longline fisheries are well managed and rigorously monitored, and regulations are enforced. International fishery management organizations consider them model fisheries and have adopted many of the measures we developed. Our fishery targets the North Pacific stock, which is healthy…and avoids the troubled Eastern Pacific and South Atlantic stocks.”

Read the full story at Undercurrent News