HONOLULU (12 March 2016) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convenes March 15 to 17, at Fuller Hall, YWCA, 1040 Richards St., Honolulu. Fishermen, other stakeholders and members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting and decision-making for federally managed fisheries in the offshore waters of Hawai'i, the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and US Pacific Remote Island Areas.
Special guests on Tuesday include Sam Rauch,
NOAA Fisheries' Deputy Assistant
Administrator for Regulatory Programs, from
the NMFS headquarters, in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Theodore Peck, head of Community and Government Affairs for Progression. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently announced that it has accepted Progression's application to develop a floating offshore windfarm off the south coast of O'ahu.
As part of the meeting, a Fishers Forum on the Hawai'i bottomfish fishery will be held Tuesday, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Hibiscus Ballroom II, at the Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu. Fishermen, seafood consumers and retailers and the general public are invited to learn and share their thoughts on the history, science, management and future of this fishery for 'opakapaka, onaga and other prime snapper that are featured as part of Hawai'i regional cuisine. This free, family friendly event features informational booths, door prizes, refreshments, a short video on the way the fishery operates, a panel of experts and public discussion.
For more on the Council meeting, Fishers Forum and complete agendas, go to www.wpcouncil.org, email info@wpcouncil.org or phone (808) 522-8220. The Council was established by Congress under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage domestic fisheries operating seaward of State waters around Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI and the US Pacific Island Remote Island Areas. Recommendations by the Council that are regulatory in nature are transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval.