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Wespac to take up Pacific fishery issues—again
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Posted on Apr 12 2008
[B]HONOLULU[/B]—The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene its 141st meeting from 1pm to 5pm (Hawaii Standard Time) on Monday, April 14, 2008, at the Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu and by teleconference with American Samoa (noon to 4pm Samoa Standard Time on April 14) and with Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island (9am to 1pm Chamorro Standard Time on Tuesday, April 15, 2008).
[B] Hawaii Bottomfish Fisheries Actions:[/B] Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Risk Analysis, Public Hearing and Council Discussion and Action [B]Program Planning, Research, and Executive/Budget Actions:[/B] Annual Catch Limits, Community Development Program Regulatory Amendment to Allow Future CDPs, Public Hearing and Council Discussion and Action
[B] Appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from nominees selected by Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and CNMI governors:[/B] William Sword, recreational fisherman/civil engineer/manager (American Samoa); Stephen Haleck, business owner (hotel and gas station) (American Samoa) (vice chair); Manuel Duenas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association (Guam) (vice chair); Frederick Duerr, resort & hotel consultant (Hawaii) (vice chair); Peter Young, environmental consultant (Hawaii); Rick Gaffney, boat dealer and ocean recreation consultant (Hawaii); Sean Martin, Pacific Ocean Producers (Hawaii) (chair); and Benigno Sablan, cultural practitioner (CNMI) (vice chair).
The Council will consider, and take action on, regulatory action items discussed at its 140th meeting and provide the public with an opportunity for comment on items listed as regulatory actions in the proposed 141st meeting agenda.
The council needs to meet again as all the actions taken during their last meeting on Saipan and in Guam last month were invalidated due to a failure to post the meeting with the Federal Register, a federal requirement.
The documents and records for the 140th Council meeting action items are available on the Council’s website at www.wpcouncil.org and at the Council Office.
The agenda for the 141st meeting includes:
[B]Pelagics Fisheries Actions:[/B] Hawaii Swordfish Fishery Effort, Squid Permits, American Samoa Longline Program Modifications, CNMI Longline Exclusion Zone, American Samoa Purse-Seine Exclusion Zones, Guam Purse-Seine Exclusion Zones, CNMI Purse-Seine Exclusion Zones, Public Hearing and Council Discussion and Action[B] Hawaii Bottomfish Fisheries Actions:[/B] Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Risk Analysis, Public Hearing and Council Discussion and Action [B]Program Planning, Research, and Executive/Budget Actions:[/B] Annual Catch Limits, Community Development Program Regulatory Amendment to Allow Future CDPs, Public Hearing and Council Discussion and Action
For participants residing in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii and the continental United States, the 141st Council meeting telephone conference call-in number is 1–888–482–3560; Access Code; 5228220. For Guam and international participants, the call-in number is: 1–647–723–3959; Access Code: 5228220.
For more information on the Council meeting including a complete agenda and synopsis of the action items, go to www.wpcouncil.org/meetings or contact the Council by telephone at 808 522-8220, fax 808 522-8226 or email info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.
The Council is the policy-making agency for fisheries management in federal waters surrounding the State of Hawaii, Territory of American Samoa, Territory of Guam, Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands and the U.S. Pacific remote island areas.
[B]Council members (2008)Designated state officials:[/B] Ignacio Dela Cruz, CNMI Department of Land & Natural Resources; Alberto Lamorena, Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans; Laura Thielen, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources; and Ray Tulafono, American Samoa Department of Marine & Wildlife Resources.
[B]Designated federal officials:[/B] Bill Robinson, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office; Jerry Leinecke, U.S. Fish and Wildlife; RAdm Sally Brice-O’Hara, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District; and Bill Gibbons-Fly, U.S. Department of State.[B] Appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from nominees selected by Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and CNMI governors:[/B] William Sword, recreational fisherman/civil engineer/manager (American Samoa); Stephen Haleck, business owner (hotel and gas station) (American Samoa) (vice chair); Manuel Duenas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association (Guam) (vice chair); Frederick Duerr, resort & hotel consultant (Hawaii) (vice chair); Peter Young, environmental consultant (Hawaii); Rick Gaffney, boat dealer and ocean recreation consultant (Hawaii); Sean Martin, Pacific Ocean Producers (Hawaii) (chair); and Benigno Sablan, cultural practitioner (CNMI) (vice chair).
