PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERY NEWS Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council / Winter 2024 ISSN 2151-2329 (PRINT) ISSN 2151-2337 (ONLINE)
Chronicles of Trial, Error and Improvement in
Pacific Island Bottomfish Stock Assessments
Today in Hawai‘i, we can enjoy bottomfish like ‘ōpakapaka or onaga at our favorite restaurant or auntie’s kitchen with no worry whether it is from a healthy stock or not. The latest assessment, published in December 2023, informed us that the fish populations in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) are far from being overfished, and their numbers are healthy and sustainable. However, that hasn’t always been the case. Not because fishermen have been overexploiting this resource, but because the science and data used to assess these stocks were not reflective of what was actually happening in the water. Over the last two decades, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has consistently pushed the need to formally review data used to assess bottomfish stocks. This longstanding effort is finally coming to fruition. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 TROLL ON IN TO THIS ISSUE 1 Chronicles of Trial, Error and Improvement in Pacific Island Bottomfish Stock Assessments 4 197th Council Meeting Highlights, December 12-13, 2023 6 NMFS Issues Revised Coral Critical Habitat Proposed Rule for American Samoa, Guam and CNMI
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State of Hawai‘i’s Strategic Evolution to Strengthen Local Fisheries
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Community Members Across the Pacific Love their 2024 Calendars
10 Bigeye Scad: The Importance of a Seasonal Fish in Our Culture 12 Congressional Corner 13 Science and Management 101: Regional Fishery Management Organizations
14 Council Family Updates 14 A New Name for the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 15 2024 Council Calendar 15 Upcoming Events 16 Fishers Forum Event 16 Recipe: Nenue (Chub) Katsu