Notice2026-04399
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP), Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), Mariana Archipelago FEP Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) AP, Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) FEP AP, and Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11048-11049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04399]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF567]
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold its American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP)
Advisory Panel (AP), Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC),
Mariana Archipelago FEP Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
(CNMI) AP, Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)
FEP AP, and Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP to discuss and make
recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific
Region.
DATES: The meetings will be held between March 11, 2026, and March 14,
2025. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The Council will hold its American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP,
FIAC, Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEP AP, Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI
AP, and Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP meetings in a hybrid format
with in-person and remote participation (Webex) options available for
the members and the public. In person attendance (for members and
public) for the Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEP AP, and FIAC meetings
will be hosted at the Council Office, 1164 Bishop St Suite 1400,
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813. In-person attendance for the American Samoa
Archipelago FEP AP and public will be hosted at the Tedi of Samoa Suite
208B, P8C6+V2F, Fagatogo Village, AS, 96799. In-person attendance for
the Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI AP and public will be hosted at BRI
Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, 96950. In-person
attendance for the Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP and public will be
hosted at Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O'Brien Drive, Hagat[ntilde]a, GU,
96910. Instructions for connecting to the web conference and providing
oral public comments will be posted on the Council website at <a href="https://www.wpcouncil.org">https://www.wpcouncil.org</a>. For assistance with the web conference connection,
contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Kitty M. Simonds, Executive
Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-
8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The American Samoa FEP AP will be held
between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Samoa Standard Time [SST]) on Wednesday,
March 11, 2026. The Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI AP will be held
between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Chamorro Standard Time [ChST]) on Thursday,
March 12, 2026. The FIAC will be held between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Hawaii
Standard Time [HST]) on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The Hawaii
Archipelago and PRIA FEP AP will be held between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
(HST)
[[Page 11049]]
on Friday, March 13, 2026. The Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP will be
held between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. noon (ChST) on Saturday, March 14,
2026.
Public Comment periods will be provided in the agendas. The order
in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will run
as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.
Schedule and Agenda for the American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP Meeting
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (SST)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Recommendation and Meeting
3. Council Fisheries Issues
A. Recommendations on Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands
Heritage Marine National Monument (MNM)
B. Options for Removing Federal Fishing Prohibitions in the Rose
Atoll MNM
C. Report on Implementing the Seafood Executive Order
D. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
4. Council Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Project Update
A. Scenario Planning
B. Regulatory Review
C. Protected Species
D. Community Consultation
5. Shark Depredation Workshop Report
6. AP Strategic Planning for 2026
7. Update on Social-Ecological and Economic Systems Program
8. Other Business
9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations
Schedule and Agenda for the FIAC Meeting
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (HST)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Status Report on Previous FIAC Recommendations
3. Roundtable Update on Fishing/Market Issues/Impacts
4. Marine National Monuments
A. Recommendations on Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands
Heritage MNM
B. Options for Removing Federal Fishing Prohibitions in the
Marianas Trench, Rose Atoll, and Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea MNM
5. Update on Electronic Monitoring Implementation, Vessel Monitoring
Plans
6. Magnuson Stevens Reauthorization Act Research Priorities Update
7. Feedback on Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Incidental
Pelagics Project
8. Status of the Deep Set Longline Endangered Species Act Section 7
Reconsultation
9. Overview of International Fisheries Issues for 2026
10. Council IRA Project Updates
A. Shark Depredation Workshop
B. Scenario Planning
C. Regulatory Review
D. Protected Species
E. Community Consultation
11. Other Business
12. Public Comment
13. Discussion and Recommendations
Schedule and Agenda for the Mariana Archipelago FEP CNMI AP Meeting
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (ChST)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Recommendation and Meeting
3. Council Fisheries Issues
A. Options for Commercial Fishing in the Marianas Trench MNM
B. Report on Implementing the Seafood Executive Order
C. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
D. CNMI Marine Conservation Plan
4. Council IRA Project Update
A. Scenario Planning
B. Regulatory Review
C. Protected Species
D. Community Consultation
5. Shark Depredation Workshop Report
6. Turtle Sustainable Use Workshop Report
7. Marianas Bottomfish Genetics Study
8. Update on Social-Ecological and Economic Systems Program
9. AP Strategic Planning for 2026
10. Other Business
11. Public Comment
12. Discussion and Recommendations
Schedule and Agenda for the Hawaii Archipelago and PRIA FEP AP Meeting
Friday, March 13, 2025, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (HST)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Recommendation and Meeting
3. Council Fisheries Issues
A. Recommendations on Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands
Heritage MNM
B. Options for Removing Federal Fishing Prohibitions in the
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea MNM
C. 2027-2030 Annual Catch Limit Specification for the Main Hawaiian
Islands Kona Crab Fishery
D. PRIA Marine Conservation Plan
E. Report on Implementing the Seafood Executive Order
F. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
4. Council IRA Project Update
A. Scenario Planning
B. Regulatory Review
C. Protected Species
D. Community Consultation
5. Shark Depredation Workshop Report
6. Turtle Sustainable Use Workshop Report
7. Feedback on PIFSC Incidental Pelagics Project
8. Mahimahi Catch Patterns Across Hawaii Fisheries
9. AP Strategic Planning for 2026
10. Other Business
11. Public Comment
12. Discussion and Recommendations
Schedule and Agenda for the Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP Meeting
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (ChST)
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Review of the Last AP Recommendation and Meeting
3. Council Fisheries Issues
A. Options for Commercial Fishing in the Marianas Trench MNM
B. Guam Marine Conservation Plan
C. Report on Implementing the Seafood Executive Order
D. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
4. Council IRA Project Update
A. Scenario Planning
B. Regulatory Review
C. Protected Species
D. Community Consultation
5. Shark Depredation Workshop Report
6. Turtle Sustainable Use Workshop Report
7. Marianas Bottomfish Genetics Study
8. Update on Social-Ecological and Economic Systems Program
9. AP Strategic Planning for 2026
10. Other Business
11. Public Comment
12. Discussion and Recommendations
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be
directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226
(fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: March 3, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-04399 Filed 3-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 6, 2026.
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