Pacific Fisheries
Fisherman Have a Voice in Fishery Management Decisions
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
Fishing regulations can have dramatic impacts on fishermen, whether they fish to make money, to have fun or to put protein on the family table. That is why the decision-making process for managing fisheries in US federal waters (generally 3 to 200 miles offshore) includes ample opportunities for fishermen to voice their concerns and offer their expert advice.
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In the US Pacific islands, fishermen provide their comments to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. Under Congressional mandate, the Council has an enormous task—to prepare management plans and their amendments to ensure fisheries occurring in federal waters surrounding the US Pacific islands are sustainable and responsible. These plans must conserve the natural resources—limit harvests so fish stocks are renewable, minimize the catch and mortality of non-targeted species, and protect marine life habitat. They also must consider the impact of management decisions on fishing communities and the safety of fishermen at sea.
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To do this, the Council seeks the advice of scientists, resource managers, enforcement officers and the many individuals who are affected by fishery management decisions. The involvement of fishermen is actively sought and has proven to be especially valuable. For example, a longline fisherman’s concern about potential interactions between the longline fishery and endangered Hawaiian monk seals led to measures that restricted this fishery 50 miles around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Fishermen participate in the Council’s decision-making process at various levels. At the highest level, fishermen can serve as a Council member. Currently, eight of the 13 Council members are fishermen or represent fishermen.
Among them are Frank Farm, the Council chair and a veteran at catching fish by spear and trap; Roy Morioka, a recreational fisherman who has been involved in sport fishing tournaments; Edwin Ebisui, also a recreational troller; and Bryan Ho, an attorney who represents commercial fishermen.
Becoming a Council member is a selective process. Candidates are named by their respective governors and approved by the Secretary of Commerce. But there are easier ways to become involved.
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You can volunteer to serve on an Advisory Panel. There are several to choose from—commercial, recreational, subsistence, and ecosystem and habitat. Jim Cook, a longline fisherman and former Council chair, currently heads the Advisory Panels. Richard Shiroma, a long-time troller, is the vice chair. Each advisory panel has nine to 10 members, with two each from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands (CNMI) and Guam and three to four from Hawaii, which has a larger population base. Advisors serve for two years. Their positions are voluntary, but they receive compensation for travel expenses, enabling the panels to meet annually.
Fishermen also serve on several other Council advisory panels and review boards. These include a panel to review projects to promote fishing in indigenous communities in the US Pacific islands, boards that review existing fishery management plans, and a task force investigating ways to improve the gathering and use of data on recreational fisheries under the Council’s jurisdiction.
Fishermen also participate on a less formal basis by sending comments directly to the Council or by contacting the Advisory Panel representatives in their island area.
If you are a fishermen and want to effect change in the way fisheries are managed, here’s how to get started. Visit the Council’s website at www.wpcouncil.org and subscribe to the Council’s quarterly newsletter. Learn about ongoing issues under Council consideration, the names of the Advisory Panel members and ways to contact the Council.
Through your involvement, the Council can better protect resources for your children and ensure sustainable use of marine resources for your community. To make wise management decisions, the Council needs the best available information—from both scientists and fishermen. So do your part—participate!
| Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council |
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The Council is the policy-making organization for the management of fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ, generally 3 - 200 miles from shore) around the Territory of American Samoa, Territory of Guam, State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Pacific island possessions – an area of nearly 1.5 million square miles. The Council is tasked with maintaining opportunities for domestic fishing while preventing adverse impacts to stocks, habitat, protected species and ecosystem resources. |
Western Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Council
1164 Bishop Street Suite 1400 • Honolulu
Hawaii 96813 • USA
Tel: (808) 522-8220 • Fax: (808) 522-8226
Website: www.wpcouncil.org
