Notice2026-04400
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 159th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Program Planning Standing Committee (SC), Executive and Budget SC, and 206th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11046-11048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04400]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF563]
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold its 159th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Program
Planning Standing Committee (SC), Executive and Budget SC, and 206th
Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the
Western Pacific Region.
DATES: The meetings will be held between March 17 and March 26, 2026.
For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Written
public comments on final action items at the 206th Council meeting
should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, March
19, 2026, see ADDRESSES.
ADDRESSES: The 159th SSC, Program Planning SC, Executive and Budget SC
and 206th Council meetings will be held as a hybrid meeting for members
and the public, with a remote participation option available via Webex.
In-person attendance for the 159th SSC, Program Planning SC, and
Executive and Budget SC meetings will be hosted at the Council office,
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. In-person
attendance for the 206th Council meeting will be hosted at the Ala
Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814.
Specific information on joining the meetings and connecting to the
web conference 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: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 159th SSC meeting will be held between
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on March 17, 2026,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on March 18, 2026, and between 8:30 a.m.
and 12 p.m. HST on March 19, 2026. The Program Planning SC meeting will
be held between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. HST on March 23, 2026. The
Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
HST on March 23, 2026. The 206th Council meeting will be held between
9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on March 24, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 5
p.m. HST on March 25, 2026, and between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. HST on
March 26, 2026. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between
4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. HST on March 24, 2026.
Background documents for the 206th Council meeting will be
available at <a href="https://www.wpcouncil.org">https://www.wpcouncil.org</a>. Written public comments on
final action items at the 206th Council meeting should be received at
the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, March 19, 2026, and should
be sent to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu,
HI 96813, phone: (808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a63646c654a7d7a69657f646963662465786d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0c9cec6cfe0d7d0c3cfd5cec3c9cc8ecfd2c7">[email protected]</span></a>. Written public comments on all other agenda items
may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the
meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during the
meeting will be posted on the Council website.
Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that may
result in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan,
proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary
of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (MSA). In addition to the agenda items
listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear
recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public
comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which
agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance
at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to
complete scheduled business.
This meeting will be recorded (audio only) for the purposes of
generating the minutes of the meeting. As public comments will be made
publicly available, participants and public commenters are urged not to
provide personally identifiable information (PII) at this meeting.
Participation in the meeting by web conference, or by telephone,
constitutes consent to the audio recording.
Agenda for the 159th SSC Meeting
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 158th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director's Report
5. Island Fisheries
A. American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species (BMUS) Stock
Assessment Update Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) Terms
of Reference Review
B. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Kona Crab Acceptable Biological
Catch for 2027-2030 (Action Item)
C. Marine Recreational Information Program Update
D. Guam Territory Fishery Management Plan
E. Public Comment
F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Program Planning and Research
A. Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine
National Monument (Action Item)
B. Council Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Project Updates
B.1. Scenario Planning for the American Samoa and Hawaii Longline
Fisheries
B.2. Regulatory Review Status Report
C. Shark Depredation Workshop Report
[[Page 11047]]
D. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
E. SSC Special Projects
E.1. Summary and status of 2025 Special Projects Working Groups
E.2. Review of Special Projects List for 2026
F. MSA Research Priorities Update
F.1. Southwest Fisheries Science Center Research Activities Report
F.2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Update on Research
Plans and Progress on Addressing Council's Research Priorities
F.3. SSC Discussion on MSA Research Priorities Update
G. Public Comment
H. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
7. Protected Species
A. SSC Special Projects Protected Species Working Group Report
B. MHI Insular False Killer Whales Abundance Estimates
C. Deep-set Longline (DSLL) Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Reconsultation for Oceanic Whitetip Shark and Leatherback Turtles
D. IRA Protected Species Workshop Report
E. HICast: Dynamic Fishing and Bycatch Avoidance Tool
F. Public Comment
G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
8. Pelagic & International Fisheries
A. Electronic Monitoring Updates
A.1. Review of the Revised Vessel Monitoring Plan (VMP)
A.2. SSC Electronic Monitoring Special Projects Working Group
Review of the VMP
B. Secondary Pelagic Species
B.1. Mahimahi Catch Patterns Across Hawaii Fisheries
B.2. Secondary Pelagic Species Assessment and Indicators Project
C. Public Comment
D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. HST
9. Other Business
A. SSC Meeting Schedule and Potential Working Groups
10. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council
Agenda for the Program Planning SC Meeting
Monday, March 23, 2026, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. HST
1. Introduction and Approval of Agenda
2. Report on Implementing the Seafood Executive Order (E.O.)
Recommendations
3. Alignment of Science and Management Priorities
4. Update on IRA Projects
A. Report on Shark Depredation Workshop
B. Update on Regulatory Review
C. Report on Protected Species Workshop
D. Update on Community Consultations
5. Advisory Body Recommendations
6. Other Business
7. Public Comment
8. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the Executive and Budget SC Meeting
Monday, March 23, 2026, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. HST
1. Introduction and Approval of Agenda
2. Financial Reports
3. Administrative Reports
4. Council Family Changes
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Other Business
7. Public Comment
8. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the 206th Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the 206th Agenda
3. Approval of the 205th CM Meeting Minutes
4. Executive Directors Report
5. Agency Reports
A. National Marine Fisheries Service
A.1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
A.2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
C. US Coast Guard
D. Enforcement
D.1. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
D.2. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
E. US State Department
F. US Fish and Wildlife Service
G. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
H. Public Comment
I. Council Discussion and Action
6. Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA)
A. Moku Pepa
B. Division of Aquatic Resources Report
C. MHI Kona Crab Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Specification for 2027-
2030 (Initial Action)
D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
D.1. Advisory Panel (AP)
D.2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC)
D.3. Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
7. Program Planning and Research
A. Marine National Monuments (MNM)
A.1. PMNM Status
A.2. Recommendations on Commercial Fishing in the PIHMNM (Final
Action)
A.3. Recommendations to Restore Commercial Fishing in the RAMNM,
MTMNM, and PMNM (Final Action)
A.4. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations on MNM
A.4.a. AP
A.4.b. FIAC
A.4.c. SSC
A.5. Public Comments on MNM
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
7. Program Planning and Research Continued
B. Report on Implementing the Seafood E.O. Recommendations
C. Aligning Science and Management Priorities
D. IRA Project Updates
D.1. Regulatory Review Status Report
D.2. Report on Year 2 of Community Consultations
E. Report on Shark Depredation Workshop
F. Council Education and Outreach Report
G. Social, Economic, Ecological and Management (SEEM) Process
Review Report by the Social Science Planning Committee (SSPC)
H. Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA) Marine Conservation Plan
(Final Action)
I. WPSAR Steering Committee Report
J. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
J.1. AP
J.2. FIAC
J.3. SSPC
J.4. SSC
K. Program Planning SC Report
L. Public Comment
M. Council Discussion and Action
8. American Samoa Archipelago
A. Motu Lipoti
B. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) Report
C. American Samoa Data Collection
C.1. Modifications to Boat-based Fishery Data Collection
[[Page 11048]]
C.2. DMWR Participation Point System
D. Terms of Reference for American Samoa Bottomfish Stock
assessment
E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
E.1. AP
E.2. FIAC
E.3. SSC
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
9. Pelagics and International
A. Review of Electronic Monitoring VMP
B. NMFS Reports on Pelagic and International Fisheries
B.1. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
Workshop Planning
B.2. South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization
(SPRFMO) Updates
B.3. Report From Southwest Fisheries Science Center
C. IRA Longline Scenario Planning Report
D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
D.1. AP
D.2. FIAC
D.3. SSC
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
Thursday, March 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. HST
10. Protected Species
A. MHI Insular False Killer Whale Abundance Estimates
B. DSLL ESA Reconsultation for Oceanic Whitetip Shark and
Leatherback Turtles
C. IRA Protected Species Workshop Report
D. Sustainable Use of Sea Turtles Workshop Report
E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
E.1 AP
E.2 FIAC
E.3 SSC
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
11. Mariana Archipelago
A. Guam
A.1. Isla Informe
A.2. Department of Agriculture/Division of Aquatic and Wildlife
Resources Report
A.3 Guam Marine Conservation Plan (Final Action)
B. CNMI
B.1. Arongol Fal[uacute]
B.2. Department of Lands and Natural Resources/Division of Fish and
Wildlife Report
B.3. Offshore Mining
B.4 CNMI Marine Conservation Plan (Final Action)
C. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
C.1. AP
C.2. FIAC
C.3. SSC
D. Public Comment
E. Council Discussion and Action
12. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Family Changes
D. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
E. Meetings and Workshops
F. Executive and Budget Standing Committee Report
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
13. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before
the Council for discussion during its 206th meeting. However, Council
final decisions will be restricted to those issues specifically listed
in this document and any regulatory issue arising after publication of
this document that requires emergency action under section 305(c) of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the
Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.
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. 2026-04400 Filed 3-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 6, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.