Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the Trump administration works to open commercial fishing to U.S. fleets across the Pacific, some of its strongest allies in that push will soon fill open seats on the influential council that oversees fishing grounds around Hawaiʻi and the Western Pacific.
Last week...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council commenced its June 9– 11 meeting in American Samoa with a culturally significant ‘ava ceremony held at the Su’iga’ula o le Atuvasa Fale Samoa. The ceremony was graciously hosted by the Office of Samoan Affairs,...
HONOLULU — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will hold its 207th meeting June 9–11, 2026, at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center in American Samoa to discuss major fishery issues affecting the territory and the wider Pacific.
A key focus will be South Pacific albacore tuna, an...
HONOLULU — The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council completed its review of several key fisheries science and management issues at its meeting last week.
The SSC endorsed the 2026 American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment Update as...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 207th meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene in person June 9- 11, 2026, at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center, Fagatogo, AS. A remote participation option will be available by web conference (Webex).
Summary of...
HONOLULU — (March 25, 2026) The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WestPac) today advanced follow-up work on fisheries science and management priorities, reaffirmed its seafood Executive Order recommendations from its September 2025 meeting, and took action on shark depredation...
Honolulu, HI — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will deliberate on two major actions at its 206th meeting this week allowing U.S. fishermen to fish in U.S. Pacific marine national monuments.
The first action concerns the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument...
HONOLULU — (March 18, 2026) At its meeting yesterday, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council reviewed a preliminary National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) risk/value matrix intended to align science and management priorities under...
HONOLULU — (March 13, 2026) From monument fishing regulations to false killer whale science and Hawai‘i fishery catch limits, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will take up several key issues at its March 17 to 19, 2026, meeting in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 206th Meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene in person March 24- 26, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom, Honolulu, HI.
The Council will consider and may take action on four issues, including any public...

![Hawai‘i Longline Association Executive Director Eric Kingma, Roger Dang of Fresh Island Fish Co., Sean Martin of POP Marine and Fishing, back left, and others joined President Donald Trump at the White House on June 11 when he signed a proclamation to start the process of opening up most of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. [Screenshot/White House/2026] FISHING EXECUTIVES AND PRESIDENT TRUMP](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wespac-white-house.jpeg?itok=EHOjv3eT)
![Lt Governor Pulumata‘ala Ae Ae Jr. and WestPac Executive Director Seuta‘atia Kitty Simonds. [ASG photo] Lt. Gov. Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr with Kitty Simonds](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lt_gov_simmonds.jpg?itok=aIzTcDgz)
![Aerial view of the longline F/V America leaving Pago Pago Harbor in American Samoa. The longline fleet plays a vital role in the territory's economy and contributes to the region's sustainable pelagic fisheries. [Photo: Edgar Feliciano] Aerial view of the longline F/V America](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/f_v_america_leaving_pago_harbor.png?itok=SYT6G17l)
![WestPac Council- managed bottomfish species in American Samoa are not overfished and not being overfished, according to a scientific review. [photo: Amy Vandehey] bottomfish](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/bottomfish_not_overfished.png?itok=adDd43Gz)

![The National Marine Fisheries Service prioritization matrix showing the Council's draft placement of Western Pacific fish stocks and complexes on the agency's risk- value scale. Legend: HI = Hawai'i; AS = American Samoa; GU = Guam; CNMI = Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; LL = longline; BF = bottomfish; DS = deep-sea. [courtesy graphic] WestPac drat prioritization](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/westpac_draft_prioritization_.png?itok=RQquFXQc)
![U.S. longline and purse seine vessels would be allowed to fish in these areas following strict federal fishery requirements. [courtesy graphic] Marine Monument map](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/marine_monument_map_.png?itok=Z_boYGOI)


