WPRFMC Reveals Agenda for Sept. 18-20 Meeting in Honolulu
Officials with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) have scheduled final action on the 2023 US Territorial Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit and allocation specification for their Sept. 18-20 meeting in Honolulu.
Bigeye tuna comprises a Pacific-wide population that is internationally managed and assessed as separate stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) and Eastern Pacific Ocean by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, respectively. The most recent stock assessment conducted in 2023 for the WCPO indicate the bigeye tuna stock is not subject to overfishing, nor overfished.
The council is expected to consider taking final action on the specification of the 2023 U.S. territorial bigeye longline limits for American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianna Islands. The council also plans to consider limits on the catch amount that could be transferred under specified fishing agreements by the U.S. Participating Territories to vessels permitted under the Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan.
Remote participation is optional and available via web conferencing. Specific information on joining the meeting, instructions to connect to the Webex and providing oral public comments during the meeting is to be available online at https://www.wpcouncil.org/event/196th-council-meeting.
Written public comments on final action items should be received by the council’s executive director, Kitty Simonds, by Thursday, Sept. 14.
Send them via postal mail to: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; by fax to 808-522-8226, or email to [email protected].
Source: https://fishermensnews.com/wprfmc-reveals-agenda-for-sept-18-20-meeting-in-honolulu/
