PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERY NEWS Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council / Fall 2022 ISSN 2151-2329 (PRINT) ISSN 2151-2337 (ONLINE)
Community members discuss fishing regulation alternatives in the NWHI MEA at a Council-organized meeting at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu Nov. 10, 2022. Photo: WPRFMC.
Fishing for Information on Regulations in the NWHI “If Hawaiian fishermen want to go there, they should have the ability.” That was the consistent message heard loud and clear from communities at public meetings that the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council organized in November 2022 on Kaua‘i, Maui, Big Island (Hilo and Kona), Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. The meetings served as a place for community members to provide comments on potential noncommercial fishing regulation alternatives in the Monument Expansion Area (MEA) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The Council will consider the public’s input at its December meeting and make recom mendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to implement. Presidential Proclamation No. 9478 (3 CFR 9478, Aug. 26, 2016) set aside an area of 50 to 200 nautical miles (the outer boundary of the U.S. exclusive economic zone) adjacent to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The Proclamation provides for management of activities and species under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, including noncommercial fishing and Native Hawaiian practices.
TROLL ON IN TO THIS ISSUE
The Council developed options to allow noncommercial fishing to occur within the MEA. It previously discussed 1
Fishing for Information on Regulations in the NWHI
3 192nd Council Meeting Highlights, September 20-22, 2022 6 NMFS Determines Hawai‘i and American Samoa Tuna Longline Fisheries Not Likely to Jeopardize ESA-Listed Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and Giant Manta Rays 7 Pursuing Fisheries Management from an Ecosystem Perspective 8 Hawai‘i Advisory Panel Solicits Fishermen’s Feedback 9 HFACT Sponsors Meetings Across Hawai‘i to Engage Fishers in the State’s Holomua Marine 30x30 Initiative
federal permitting and reporting for both noncommercial fishing and Native Hawaiian subsistence fishing practices. Potential fishing regulations would require fishers interested in conducting fishing activities in the MEA to obtain a permit from NMFS, report their catch and bring fish out of the area. In the case of noncommercial fishing activities, the fish could not be sold, traded or bartered. However, at its September meeting, the Council expressed interest in hearing from the community on whether fishing for subsistence purposes should allow for fish to be brought back for cultural sharing. In the Rose Atoll and Marianas Trench Marine National Monu ments, the Council recommended, and NMFS approved the inclusion of customary exchange. It is widely practiced in all of the Pacific Islands to share fish freely within a com munity without negotiation or immediate expectation of any equivalent return. This type of Customary exchange fishing custom does authorize is the nonmarket exchange the sale of fish to recover certain of marine resources between fishing costs so community fishermen and community members can afford the cost residents for goods and/or of accessing the monument, services for cultural, social practice their culture and tradi or religious reasons. tions, and share fish with family CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
10 2022 Midterm Election Results in the Western Pacific Region
15 In Memorium
10 Who will be the next Governor for the CNMI?
16 Update from Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources on the Final MHI Deep-7 Bottomfish Landings for the 2021-22 Fishing Year
11 Guam: Fishing Crosses Party Lines 11 Guam May Soon See Consistent Supply of Fresh Locally Caught Fish
16 Congressional Corner
17 Highlights from the Pacific Region
13 Get to Know Your Council Members: High Chief Taulapapa William Sword
18 Recipe: Baked Onaga with Tomatoes andHomemade Harissa
14 New Outreach Resources
19 2022-23 Council Calender
15 Council Family Updates
19 Upcoming Events
15 Attention Hawai‘i Recreational Fishermen – How Much do you Spend on Fishing?
20 Summary of Action Items at the December 2022 Council Meeting