March 15-17, 2016
165th Council Meeting,
Utulei, American Samoa
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February 22-24
Councils Coordination Committee, TBD
March 8-10
Scientific and Statistical Committee, Honolulu
March 14
Standing Committees, Honolulu
March 30-31
Marine Planning and Climate Change Committee, Honolulu
April 1
Social Science Planning Committee, Honolulu
April 7-8
Protected Species Advisory Committee, Honolulu
April 11-13
Archipelagic and Pelagic Plan Team, Honolulu
April 14-15
Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee, Honolulu
For more information and agendas for upcoming meetings, visit
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS
MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BOTTOMFISH: A CASE STUDY IN FISHERIES CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT (Special Poster Insert)
The Hawai'i bottomfish fishery targets snappers, groupers and jacks that inhabit deep slopes and banks at depths ranging from 50 to 200 fathoms. The fishery provides a high-value, fresh, local source of protein for the people and promotes traditional fishing practices utilizing modern technology... Read More
PACIFIC ISLANDS RECIPE
Click
here
for a delicious baked onaga recipe. Courtesy of the Maile Room, Kahala Hilton, Honolulu.
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PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERY NEWS is published by the
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808) 522-8220
Fax: (808) 522-8226
[email protected]
CHAIR
Edwin Ebisui Jr.
VICE CHAIRS
Michael Duenas - Guam
McGrew Rice - Hawai'i
John Gourley - CNMI
William Sword - American Samoa
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kitty M. Simonds
All rights reserved. Unsolicited material will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addresses stamped envelope.
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Welcome to the Winter 2016 edition of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's
Pacific Islands Fishery News! Click
here
to download the complete PDF and be sure to
allow a few extra seconds for the file to upload.
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HAWAI'I BIGEYE TUNA FISHERY SURVIVES TWO-MONTH CLOSURE
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Hawaii longline vessels remained tied up for two months as they waited for NMFS to approve a fishing agreement to transfer part of the bigeye tuna quota from the US Pacific Territories to the Hawaii fishery.
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Fishing conditions in the longline fishery in the first half of 2015 wereexcellent, with a 36 percent increase in catch per unit of effort and a preponderance of large high quality fish in the catch.
Read more
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Our last newsletter of 2015 is dedicated to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's activities in Hawai'i, one of our areas
of jurisdiction. We hope that the sections on management, research and community projects will offer you a glimpse of the breadth of what we do-from conserving fishery ecosystems to promoting the livelihood of fishermen and a culture of fishing and from serving as the bridge between fishermen and the government to fulfilling our requirements...
Read more
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HOW THE HAWAI'I LONGLINE FISHERY IS MANAGED
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| The WCPFC closure of US longline bigeye tuna harvesting lasted from Aug. 5 to Oct. 9, 2015. The IATTC closure for US longlinge vessels greater than 24 meters harvesting bigeye tuna began Aug. 12 and continues until Dec. 31, 2015. |
The Hawai'i longline fishery is managed domestically by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as well as under international measures that are adopted by two tuna regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs) and implemented by Council and NMFS regulations. One RFMO, the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC), has jurisdiction over the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO)...
Read more
PUBLIC ADVICE INFORMS REVISED FISHERY ECOSYSTEM PLANS
In 2001, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council completed the nation's first ecosystem-based plan for fisheries. The Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan included specific measures to promote sustainable fisheries, while providing for substantial protection of coral reef ecosystem resources and habitats throughout the Council 's jurisdiction...Read more
2015 HAWAI'I REPORTS TO INCLUDE HALF CENTURY OF DATA, ENHANCED ECOSYSTEM ELEMENTS
The Western Pacific Regiona lFishery Management Council has been working with the Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources to draft the first annual commercial landings report for the main Hawaiian Islands. This initial report illustrates commercial fishing trends based on 49 years of data from 1966 to 2014...Read More
HAWAI'I ANNUAL CATCH LIMITS SET THROUGH 2018
In 2006, the reauthorized Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) included requirements to prevent and end overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. To comply with these requirements, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council amended its fishery management plans to include a mechanism for specifying annual catch limits (ACL) for all fisheries at a level such that overfishing does not occur and to implement measures to ensure accountability measures for adhering to these limits...Read More
FINAL RULE ANNOUNCED FOR THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL CRITICAL HABITAT
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| Monk seal critical habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands. |
On Aug. 21, 2015, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced the final rule to revise critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals. Consultation is required under the Endangered Species Act for actions that are authorized, funded or carried out by federal agencies that may affect critical habitat. The revised critical habitat went into effect Sept. 21, 2015...
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL HAULS OUT ON A BOAT RAMP
That was the question raised by members of the Hawai'i Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan Advisory Panel (AP) at its meeting on Oct. 15, 2015...
Read more
RED FISH
The main Hawaiian island (MHI) bottomfish fishery is managed through two sub-complexes-the Deep-7 and the rest of the bottomfish species. Every time fishery managers get together with the bottomfish fishing community, the same questions arise. Where did the Deep-7 species complex come from? Why are they grouped together?
Read more
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HAWAI'I YELLOWFIN TUNA MINIMUM SIZE LIMITS
If you ask any two fishermen in Hawai'i about whether the State should raise the current minimum size limit for commercial sale of yellowfin tuna from 3 pounds to something higher, you are likely to get two different answers...
HAWAI'I ADVISORY PANEL LOOKS AT CROSS SEAMOUNT
FISHERY
Late last year, the Hawai'i Advisory Panel (AP) discussed whether current fishing conditions at the Cross Seamount area are cause for concern. Fishing at "the Mountain" waxes and wanes, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council stays in tune with this unique fishery in order to understand whether management measures are necessary..
MAUNALUA STUDY GROUND TRUTHS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Maunalua Bay on the eastern side of O'ahu was an area famously known for its productive fisheries that supported vibrant communities living off of the land and sea. It was home to one of Hawai'i's largest fishponds, Kuapa...
PROJECT UNDERWAY TO ESTIMATE AKULE POPULATION
The bigeye scad (Selar crumenopthalmus, locally known as akule) is an important food source for many Hawai'i residents and represents one of the most productive nearshore fisheries in Hawai'i. Akule is considered a coastal pelagic species, occupying an intermediate trophic link between the coastal environment in which it feeds and the pelagic migrations of its predators...
PARTNERSHIP TACKLES TOOTHED-WHALE DEPREDATION IN THE HAWAI'I
The Hawaii Longline Association (HLA), in collaboration with
industry members, independent researchers, the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and the
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, is tackling a long-standing challenge faced by
longline fishermen around the world: depredation by odontocetes (toothed whales)... Read more
NEW ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS HAWAI'I GREEN TURTLE
RESILIENCE
TO TUMOR-CAUSING DISEASE
If you have encountered Hawai'i green turtles (known in Hawaiian as honu) while diving or snorkeling, chances are you have seen them with tumors on their skin. Since at least the late 1950s, the honu has been seen with these tumors, which
are caused by a disease called fibropapillomatosis (FP)...Read more
A LOOK AT DEPLOYMENT, DESIGN, LOCATION OF HAWAI'I FADs
For generations, native Hawaiian fishermen have tended ko'a, or fishing shrines
in the ocean, by placing stones or food in a distinct locations to attract fish. Similar
in concept to ko'a, modern fish aggregation devices (FADs), which are buoys anchored in depths
between 100 and 2,000 fathoms, have been used in Hawai'i and other US Pacific Islands for decades
as an effective method to attract pelagic species such as aku, 'ahi, mahimahi, ono and billfish
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IUCN RELEASES NEW LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE RED LIST ASSESSMENT
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) has been working through regional assessments for all turtle species. It completed the leatherback assessment in 2013, and, on Dec. 1, 2015, announced the assessment for loggerhead (Caretta caretta)...
Read more
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WHAT FISHERMEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WIND ENERGY
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O'ahu Northwest Project, proposed to be located 12 miles northwest of Ka'ena Point in water depths of approximately 700 to 1,000 meters (2,296 to 3,280 feet). The proposed lease area is 11,387 acres (4,608 hectares). Source:www.boem.gov/hawaii
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Hawai'i's mandated clean energy
goals combined with advances in offshore technology have sparked wind energy development interest
in Hawai'i's waters. Currently, two unsolicited lease requests filed with the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM) propose offshore wind facilities off Ka'ena Point and South O'ahu by AW
Hawaii Wind, LLC (AWH)...Read more
BLUE MARLIN CAPITAL DESERVES A WORLD CLASS FACILITY
Kona is recognized as the blue marlin capital of the world. Its
small boat harbor at Honokohau is filled with more than 100 charter vessels offering half- and full-day charters with a good chance of catching a blue marlin. Blue marlin and other large gamefish are often caught in close proximity to Honokohau because the steeply dropping coast brings large pelagic fish close to shore...
Read more
A CASE FOR HONU MANAGEMENT
Hawai'i, like much of the world that has
green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in their environment, traditionally harvested the animal as food. Culturally, honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) is an important part of the diet of native Hawaiians...Read more
AHA MOKU AT A CROSSROAD
In 2007, the Hawai'i State Legislature created the Aha Ki'ole Advisory Committee with the purpose of identifying the system of best practices of traditional management of Hawai'i's natural resources. In 2009, the Committee reported that the best practices are contained within the traditional Aha Moku system and include an adaptive management regulatory regime...
Read more
IUCN RELEASES NEW LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE RED LIST ASSESSMENT
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) has been working through regional assessments for all turtle species. It completed the leatherback assessment in 2013, and, on Dec. 1, 2015, announced the assessment for loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
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HOOK, LINE AND SINKER
After hearing about the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's class on fishing sustainability at Moanalua High School from friends and former students,I decided that this would be an ideal class to take to get the most out of my summer before my senior year. Like others before, I heard of being spoiled with field trips and amazing food, how
learning was always fun, and of the many activities that were exclusive solely to our program...
Read more
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COUNCIL FAMILY UPDATES AND RECIPE
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IN MEMORIAM
Louis "Buzzy" Agard Jr., one of the
original members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, passed away this
year at the age of 91. Born in 1924, Buzzy was best known to the Council as an accomplished lawai'a. He began working on aku boats at an early age and the tuna cannery in Kaka'ako. He began fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) in 1946. ...Read more
Henry Chang Wo, an adviser to the Council, community leader and fighter for 'Ewa Beach, passed away on Sept. 19, 2015. Born on May
19, 1941, Henry grew up in Halawa and as a child accompanied his family to 'Ewa
Beach to fish and pick limu. He called
'Ewa the House of Limu. He was among
the first of traditional practitioners that
identified the...
Read more
Michael Crook, longtime Advisory Panel
member in American Samoa, recently
passed away. He served in the US Peace
Corps as a fisheries extension agent for the
government of (Western) Samoa's Division
of Fisheries...
Read more
Lauvao Stephen Haleck,
a High Talking
Chief Village of
Aunu u, County of
Sa'ole and former
Council chair, passed
away this September
in American Samoa.
He was born an
d raised in Pago Pago,
attended Central Bible College in
Springfield, Missouri, and actively served in his church. Lauvao was married to Malesete Groshe-Haleck for 33 years, with whom he raised four...Read more
COUNCIL FAMILY UPDATES
The Council at its 164th meeting voted to reappoint its 2015 officers for 2016. Edwin Ebisui Jr. continues as chair; Michael Duenas, vice chair for Guam; John Gourley, vice chair for the CNMI; Fredrick McGrew Rice, vice chair for Hawai'i; and William Sword, vice chair for American Samoa...
Read more
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