Fall 2018 Pacific Islands Fishery Newsletter

Pacific Islands Fishery News

Newsletter of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council / Fall 2018

Fish ISSN 2151-2329 (PRINT) ISSN 2151-2337 (ONLINE)

is Hawai‘i’s #1 Locally Produced Food TOP TEN 2017 HAWAI‘I FOOD CROPS

The conversation about consuming food produced locally in the Hawaiian Islands has grown in recent years. Economics, food security and climate change are among the factors discussed. The cost to Hawai‘i to import 80 to 90 percent of its food can be as much as $3 billion annually.1 The state’s limited 10-day supply of available food places residents at risk when natural disasters and labor strikes close harbors and airports.

The carbon footprint for shipments to the state can be significant, as large cargo vessels can emit as much pollution as 50 million cars in a year.

(million $, farmgate or dockside)

Sugar cane previously dominated the state’s agricul­ tural industry, followed closely by pineapple. However, according to University of Hawai‘i reports, the total land use for agriculture statewide has shrunk by nearly 70 percent in the last 40 years, as dozens of operations that farmed hundreds of thousands of acres have ceased2. Local sugar plantations went extinct when the last remaining sugar grower, Hawaiian Com­mercial & Sugar Co. of Maui, shut down after 146 years in 2016.

Following this closure, the land use for both sugar and pineapple plantations waned to just a few thousand acres across the state.

Despite the local government’s best efforts, includ­ing Gov. David Ige’s call for self-sufficiency by doubling local agricultural production3, uncer­tainty exists whe­ther the agricultural sector can be reinstated to what it once was. Issues plaguing Hawai‘i’s once bustling agriculture industry include high land costs, a shortage of local farm workers due to older farmers aging out of the business and cheaper foreign labor.

Meanwhile, the dockside value of commercially caught fish landed in Hawai‘i is $120 million, top­ping the charts for locally produced food in the state. Moreover, 80 percent of the fish is retained in Hawai‘i, whereas less than 25 percent of the cattle (the state’s third most valuable food product) remains in the islands.

Lyte B. With pineapple and sugar production gone, Hawaii weighs its agricultural future.

Washington Post. Dec. 17, 2017.

1, 2

3

https://governor.hawaii.gov/featured/growing-a-strong-economy-now-and-for-the-future-2/

Food item Hawai‘i Commercial Fish Landings Macadamia Nuts

$ million

Kept in Hawai‘i

120.0

80%

54.9

NA

Cattle

43.9

24%

Coffee

43.7 NA

Aquaculture 41.7 NA Algae

35.2

0%

Papayas

9.4 50%

Milk

9.2

Lettuce

8.7 100%

Bananas

6.1 100%

100%

Sources: USDA Annual Statistics Bulletin; Pelagic FEP Annual Report 2017.

Note: Hawai‘i crop seed production valued $120.8 million in 2017.

Situated in the Central Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian Islands comprise the most isolated island chain in the world. Along­side its multicultural demographic, Hawai’i’s unique location likely contributes to the state’s high per capita rate of seafood con­ sumption, which is nearly twice the national average.

A large portion of the seafood consumed statewide is fresh fish. Especially in recent decades, Hawai‘i residents have eaten large amounts of both bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (T. albacares) as ‘ahi poke.

Approximately one-third of seafood consumed in the state comes from local commercial operations landing nearly 15 mil­ lion pounds of local fish. Adding estimated noncommercial catch increases the estimated percentage of local seafood consumed in Hawai‘i to more than 50 percent in recent years. Compare this with the nation as a whole, which produces only around 10 percent of the seafood it consumes.

Although it is important to consumers in Hawai’i to have access to a wide range of seafood options, continued dependency on foreign imports may decrease Hawai’i’s self-sufficiency and increase its susceptibility to changes in the international market.

Given these facts, it would behoove the State of Hawai‘i to sup­ port its local fisheries as it moves forward with plans to make the islands self-sufficient.

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

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174th Council Meeting Highlights

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convened its 174th meeting Oct. 23 and 24, 2018, at the Fiesta Resort and Spa on Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Oct. 26 and 27 at the Hilton at Tumon, Guam. Underpinning the discussions were concerns about keeping healthy, sustainable US Pacific Island fisheries viable amid an accumulation of US regulations and international negotiations.

On the first day, Council Executive Director Kitty M. Simonds and Council Acting Chair John Gourley presented a check for $250,000 to CNMI Gov. Ralph Torres and CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony Benavente. The funds stem from the 2017 bigeye specified fishing agreement between the Commonwealth and Hawai‘i longline vessels.

In presenting the check, Simonds noted that the funds would be used to implement a bottomfish fishery training and demonstration project. “Bottomfish resources in the CNMI are healthy and abundant,” Simonds said, “and we look forward to this project that will train the next generation of CNMI fishermen.”

The Council recommended that an annual catch limit (ACL) of 228,000 pounds be set for the CNMI bottomfish species complex for fishing year 2019. In the period 2015-2017, the estimated average annual catch was 35,696 pounds, suggesting the fishery could harvest six times its recent average catch before exceeding the ACL. Council regula­ tory recommendations are transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.

For Guam, the Council recommended an ACL of 66,000 pounds be set for bottomfish species complex for fishing year 2019. Currently, Guam harvests 29 percent of that recommended limit. The Council recommended an ACL of 106,000 pounds for the American Samoa bottomfish species 2

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

(from right) Council Executive Director Kitty M. Simonds presents $250K check to Gov. Ralph Torres accompanied by CNMI Senate President Arnold Palacios, Council Acting Chair John Gourley of CNMI and CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony Benavente.

Photo by Sylvia Spalding, WPRFMC.

complex for fishing year 2019. The next stock assessment for the CNMI, Guam and American Samoa bottomfish fisheries is scheduled for review in February 2019 and will provide new information to set the ACLs for fishing year 2020 to 2022.

Regarding Hawai‘i fisheries, the Council recommended the ACLs for main Hawaiian island (MHI) non-Deep 7 bottomfish be set at 127,205 pounds and for MHI deepwater shrimp at 250,773 pounds for fishing years 2019-2021 and the MHI Kona crab ACL be set at 3,500 pounds for fishing year 2019. For precious corals, the recommended ACLs for 2019-2021 were Auau Channel black coral 5,512 pounds; Makapu‘u Bed pink coral 2,205 pounds; Makapu‘u Bed bamboo coral 551 pounds; 180 Fathom Bank pink coral 489 pounds; 180 Fathom Bank bamboo coral 123 pounds; Brooks Bank pink coral 979 pounds; Brooks Bank bamboo coral 245 pounds; Ka‘ena Point Bed pink coral 148 pounds; Ka‘ena Point Bed bamboo coral 37 pounds; Keahole Bed pink coral 148 pounds; Keahole Bed bamboo coral 37 pounds; and precious coral in MHI exploratory area 2,205 pounds.

Regarding pelagic and international fisheries, the Council endorsed the majority recommendation of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) to Advise the US Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) for the United States to obtain a longline bigeye quota of 6,000 metric tons (mt) at the upcoming WCPFC meeting. This amount is slightly less than the amount of bigeye caught in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

in 2016 by Hawai‘i longline vessels, including those vessels operating under agreements with US Participating Territories.

The Hawai‘i longline fleet is the sole fishery that utilizes the US quota, which is currently set at 3,554 mt.

The Council also endorsed the PAC recommendation that the US position generally be in support of adoption of a South Pacific albacore target reference point. The reference point is a catch target that supports economically viable operations and healthy biomass. The American Samoa longline fishery, which harvests this stock, has been in decline since 2011. The Council asked NMFS to provide economic evaluations of the fleet’s performance at various target reference points in advance of WCPFC15.

The WCPFC, an international regional fishery management organization to which the United States is a party, is scheduled to hold its 15th annual meeting in Honolulu on Dec. 9 to 14, 2018. The PAC to Advise the US Commissioners to the WCPFC met Oct. 11 and 12, 2018, in Honolulu.

Among other pelagic and international fishery matters, the Council recommended initial action be taken that would require electronic reporting in the Hawai‘i longline fishery.

The Council asked NMFS to continue to develop electronic reporting in the Hawai‘i longline fishery and to work with Hawaii longline participants and Council staff to address several implementation issues and report back to the Council at its March 2019 meeting.

The Council had intended to take action regarding the management of loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles in the Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery, which targets swordfish.

However, action was postponed as a draft biological opinion due from NMFS on Oct. 1 has not been completed. The Council’s recommendation made in June 2018 included a specification of individual trip limits for loggerhead sea turtle interactions. The Council may consider additional measures for leatherback turtles at its 175th meeting on Dec. 17, 2018.

Bigeye tuna catches in the WCPO by longline fisheries

Country

2017 Catch* (mt)

2018 Catch Limit (mt)

Japan

11,669

17,765

Korea

10,220

13,942

Chinese Taipei

9,638

10,481

China

7,023

8,724

13

5,889

2,968

3,554

Indonesia United States

* As reported to the WCPFC by member countries.

Regarding essential fish habitat (EFH), the Council directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Hawai‘i Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) to revise the precious corals EFH and prepare the document for final action at the Council’s March 2019 meeting. The Council selected the following preliminarily preferred options for the staff to further analyze: a) revise existing beds and designate new beds as EFH for deep-water precious corals, b) update geographic extent and habitat characteristics for shallow-water precious corals, and c) update the FEP. For the complete 174th Council meeting agenda and actions, go to www.wpcouncil.org/174th-council-meeting/.

Council members, staff and NOAA personnel arrive at Anderson AFB, on the first of two US Coast Guard HC-130 flights from Saipan the day after Super Typhoon Yutu hit the island and neighboring Tinian with 180 knot winds, closing all commercial flights from the Saipan International Airport.

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

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Super Typhoon Yutu Interrupts 174th Council Meeting As the 174th Council meeting started at the Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a tropical disturbance to the southeast was beginning to grow. In 24 hours, that disturbance would strengthen to Super Typhoon Yutu and head directly for Tinian, Saipan’s southern neighbor.

When the Council meeting finished on Saipan, staff and Council members braced for the storm. Sustained winds of 190 miles per hour (mph) rattled doors and windows, keeping everyone awake, while outside 200 mph gusts uprooted trees, destroyed structures and tossed debris around the hotel grounds.

As the Council members and staff prepared to leave Damaged aircraft at the Francisco Saipan via a US Coast Guard C. Ada / Saipan International HC-130 flight to continue Airport. Photo by Joshua DeMello. the Council meeting in Guam, they were aghast at the utter destruction of the island and the scenes of devastation. Yutu left a wake of downed powerlines, toppled roofs and crumbled concrete structures. Cars were lined up for miles as residents sought gas for their generators and water for drinking. Overnight, the typhoon had destroyed 500 homes and left more than 1,000 people homeless.

Council Member Dean Sensui, a former photographer for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, provided numerous images of Saipan that were used by the Associated Press to show the world the damage that Super Typhoon Yutu had caused.

Council staff Nate Ilaoa and others provided video updates throughout the storm via social media, which were shared numerous times.

Super Typhoon Yutu was rated a Category 5 storm and the strongest storm to hit the United States in decades.

It is estimated that it could take three months to restore half of the power to Tinian. Those wishing to provide donations to help with the recovery can go to redcross. org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or mail a check to their local Red Cross office.

From top: Post-Yutu scene outside the conference room at the Fiesta Resort, where the 174th Council meeting was held; Super Typhoon Yutu left a wake of downed electric lines, uncovered roofs and piles of debris throughout southern Saipan; Super Typhoon Yutu damaged infrastructure, cars and airplanes at the Francisco C. Ada / Saipan International Airport that, along with lack of electricity and water, left the facility inoperable for several days. Photos by Joshua DeMello, WPRFMC.

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Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

Drifting FADs under Scrutiny Since the early 1990s, tropical purseseine tuna fisheries have used drift­ ing fish aggregation devices (FADs) globally to increase yields and fishing efficiency. Today, most of these FADs are tethered to satellite beacons equip­ped with echo sounders, provi­ ding broad coverage and biomass information at the touch of a button and flat screen. Tuna industry insiders have coined instrumented FADs as a “game changer” as they reduce the time and fuel needed to search for fish and diminish reliance on onboard helicopters, which at sea are expensive and dangerous.

The use of FADs by purse-seine ves­ sels has been contentious within inter­national tuna management fora as FADs tend to aggregate both juvenile and adult skipjack, yellow­ fin and bigeye tuna. Adult yellowfin and bigeye are targeted heavily by longline vessels. The combined longline and purse-seine catch results in high levels of fishing mortality leading to stock depletion. The incidental purseseine catch of bigeye is particularly concerning as it is not an ideal product

for canning and is often mixed in low levels with yellowfin and skipjack.

Research suggests that, if the juvenile bigeye caught in purse-seine fisheries were captured as adults in the long­ line or handline fisheries, they could gener­ate a much higher economic yield when sold through sashimi and/or fillet markets.

About 5 percent of the catch by the purse-seine fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) when fishing on FADs is juvenile bigeye.

While this is minor compared to total catch, it amounts to around 60,000 metric tons (mt), which is equivalent to the total weight of adult bigeye by the longline fishery. In terms of individual fish, the purse-seine fishery captures around 10 times the number of bigeye in the WCPO as the longline fishery.

The balance between purse-seine and longline interests has been a source of contention for more than a decade within the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) as well as other tuna regional fishery management organizations (RFMOs). To date, international man­ age­ment measures have focused on seasonal FAD closures and total closures to address FAD impacts on bigeye; however, now FAD design and

materials are under scrutiny.

It is estimated that 45,000 to 65,000 FADs are deployed annually in the WCPO, of which 25 percent are lost, often washing ashore on beaches and reefs of the Pacific. Drifting FADs, which are typically constructed of bamboo or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rafts with netting material extending to 50 meters below the surface, are known to entangle sharks, sea turtles and other marine life.

Due to the impact of drifting FADs, initiatives are now underway to require lower or non-entangling designs and to mandate the use of biodegradable materials. The Forum Fisheries Agency, including members of the Parties to Nauru Agreement which controls the world’s largest tuna fishery via access to their exclusive economic zones, has formed a strong position on this issue. The Forum is proposing that all FADs deployed or drifting into the WCPFC convention area be of nonentangling design and be comprised of biodegradable materials.

Practical, effective and enforceable measures are needed to address this new and heightened focus on purseseine drifting FADs within tuna RFMOs and discerning consumer markets.

Source: ISSF. 2015. Guide for non-entangling FADs.

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

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A Hawai‘i longline vessel crew member offloads tuna at the Honolulu fish auction. Local and international standards are now in place to protect the rights and well-being of foreign workers on fishing vessels. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Gilden.

New Fishing Labor Convention Enters Into Force According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 38 million people work full- or part-time aboard fishing vessels globally. Fishermen who are willing to take on this often dangerous and demanding job on industrialsized fishing vessels are regularly from under-developed countries. While the wages they earn far exceed local pay in their home country, recent reports document slave labor in some fisheries as well as poor working conditions.

Allegations of foreign crew abuse and sub-standard working conditions have even been made against the Hawai‘i longline fishery, which is the gold standard in terms of comprehensive management and monitoring.

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Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

US fishing vessels targeting highly migra­tory species have been author­ ized to employ foreign crew members for more than two decades. The approx­imately 700 foreign workers employed on Hawai‘i longline vessels are mainly from Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam and are an integral com­ ponent of the fishery.

On Nov. 6, 2017, the Work in Fishing Convention of 2007 entered into force. The Convention was adopted by the General Conference of the ILO on May 2007. While the United States is not a party to the Convention, it is a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles, which established the ILO. The Convention aims to ensure that crew members on commercial fishing vessels have decent onboard working conditions including accommodation and food, occupational safety and health, medical care and social security. The Convention also requires that all fishers have a written agreement, signed by the fishing vessel owner or the fishing vessel

owners’ representative, which is comprehensible to them and which sets out the terms of their work, including such matters as methods of payment and the right to repatriation.

The Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) has adopted crew standards that are consistent with the 2007 Convention.

In addition, the United Fishing Agency (UFA), which runs the Honolulu fish auction at Pier 38, requires that all longline vessels landing fish at the auction meet HLA’s standards.

Council Executive Director Kitty M. Simonds commended these efforts: “The Council values the hard work, dedication and skills needed to be crew on a Hawai‘i longline vessel. It is assuring that HLA and UFA have taken steps to establish comprehensive crew employment standards that are consistent with the Work in Fishing Convention. Through such actions, the Hawai‘i longline fishery continues to be a global leader in all facets related to fisheries.”

Changing Climate Could Shift Ecosystems, Fisheries Climate change has been a “hot” topic in both political and scientific discussions. Many Pacific Island com­ munities are concerned about rising sea levels and an increase in unusual climate events, such as the massive coral “bleaching” event corresponding with an El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event in 2014 through 2015.

Elevated sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification (lowered pH) inflicted massive mortal­ity on much of the reef systems in the Pacific, especially in equatorial areas.

Scientists suggest that another ENSO event is imminent. Fishers and beachcombers on the West coasts of the United States, Mexico and Central America have noticed an explosion of “tuna crabs” in the water and washed up on beaches. These bright red crustaceans are found in pelagic environments, have an unmistakable bright red hue and are type of “squat lobster.” Tuna crab explosions are a tell-tale sign of not only an impending ENSO event but also of serendipitous fishing conditions for California anglers as this explosion in prey biomass with warmer nearshore waters heightens opportunities to catch more fish from yellowtail to bluefin tuna.

On the other hand, the forthcoming ENSO conditions will likely lead to another blow to tropical ecosystems.

In October 2018, scientists and fishers in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) reported an alarmingly rapid bleaching event in that nation’s lush reef tracts throughout Majuro and Kwajalein, the same reefs that had been previously hit hard by the 20142015 ENSO-driven bleaching event.

It appears that changing climate is resulting in “winners and losers” in the nearshore fisheries. What about highly migratory tuna fisheries?

A team of experts and scientists led by Drs. Inna Senina and Patrick Lehodey from France’s Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) and others from Australia, France and New Caledonia convened to answer this question.

Their study (“Impact of Climate Change on Pacific tropical tunas and their fisheries in High Sea and Pacific Islands waters”) was presented at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries

Projected mean distributions of biomass across the tropical Pacific Ocean under a “business as usual” climate scenario from 2005, projected 2050, and projected 2100 from the simulation ensembles in Senina et al. (2018).

Commission’s 14th Scientific Commit­ tee (SC14) meeting in August 2018. The study explored how climate change will impact tuna fisheries production and opportunities within the exclu­ sive economic zones of many islands through­out much of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), which account for about one-third of the world’s tuna catch.

The 2018 study by Senina et al. used the pessimistic scenario of “business as usual” CO2 emissions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the resulting thermal out­ comes under this scenario and an ensemble of projected data sets on oceanographic variables. These data­ sets or “drivers” include temperature, primary productivity (like plankton), oxygen at depth, ocean acidification and resulting oceanographic currents.

A model called SEAPODYM (Spatial Ecosystems and Population Dynamics Model) developed by some of the authors in 2008 was used to project

future spatial patterns and productiv­ ity of tuna species (big­eye, yellowfin, skipjack and South Pacific albacore tuna) from the present year to 2100 under the ensemble of projected “drivers” and assumptions. The research team used the distribution of small aquatic organisms and tuna larvae to predict tuna movement and feeding, projected ocean currents that physically redistribute tuna larvae, water temperature and dissolved oxygen for tuna habitat preferences, and other variables that may cue spawning migrations. Tuna (and other fish) larvae are known to be sensitive to high temperatures and lowered pH, much like corals are. Oceanographic circulation often changes as a result of climate change and thus impacts how tuna larvae are distributed. Favor­ able larval and adult tuna feeding conditions and habitat are impacted by dissolved oxygen at depth and primary productivity. (continued on next page)

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

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Changing Climate

(continued from page 7)

Mean biomass change (%) by EEZ for the decades 2046-2055 (2050) and 20912100 (2100) relative to 2001-2010 average for skipjack (SKJ), yellowfin (YFT), bigeye (BET) and albacore (ALB) tunas. CNMI = Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands; FSM = Federated States of Micronesia. “(-SO)” denotes projection estimates excluding no change in dissolved oxygen. Source: Senina et al. (2018).

The researchers projected biomass through time and space.

The results were interesting to say the least and clearly show a loss of opportunity for some fishing areas and an increase in opportunity for others. Notable shifts are projected for skipjack and yellowfin tuna, which comprise most of the WCPO tuna catch. Unfished skipjack tuna biomass is expected to decline from historically productive waters east of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and waters around the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Philippines.

Skipjack biomass is expected to increase in production in the equatorial band with in the central Pacific. Yellowfin tuna are expected to have a similar phenomenon but with much greater overall productivity in the eastern Pacific (in 2050 and 2100) with some high productivity persisting from the Java Sea to the West Timor region. The study showed lesser expected distributional shifts for bigeye tuna and a high level of sensitivity of projected oxygen for albacore.

Several Pacific Island nations could expect significant loss of fishing opportunities while some may experience fortuitous gains.

Island nations and territories west of 170° E seem to show the most deleterious trends in biomass. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands could expect a 48 and 8 8

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Winter 2018

percent increase in unfished skipjack biomass within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in 2050 and 2100, respect­ ively, compared to biomass levels from 2001 to 2010.

Unfor­tunately, the FSM may experience a 37 to 55 percent decline in unfished biomass for yellowfin and skipjack tunas, respectively, from 2010 to 2100. By 2050, unfished yellowfin and skipjack biomass with FSM EEZ waters could decline by 19 and 29 percent, respectively, due to ecosystem dynamics resulting from climate change.

East of 170°E, the trends are not so pessimistic. In fact many are extremely positive for some Pacific Island states.

American Samoa may experience increases for all tuna species within its EEZ; skipjack tuna could increase in excess of 40 to 60 percent in 2050 and 2100 per these projections.

South Pacific albacore are expected to increase within most EEZs and in parts of the high seas, per many scenarios, in waters close to the eastern Pacific equatorial region, especially to the east where dissolved oxygen levels are historically depleted at depth.

The authors recognized many improvements are to be made to this monumental effort to discern trends, possible opportunities and risks in tuna fisheries in the face of changing climate.

Solving the Mariana Archipelago’s Shark Issue While environmental nongovernment organizations promote sharks as charismatic megafauna and media outlets report declining shark catch rates, something very different is occurring in the Mariana Archipelago. For the last decade, fishermen throughout the island chain, which includes Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), have been lamenting that depredation (damage or removal of fish or bait from fishing gear) by sharks is interfering with their ability to fish, whether they are bottomfishing or trolling for pelagic species.

According to Guam creel surveys, shark depredation occurs in nearly 40 percent of pelagic troll fishing trips. The lack of longline and purse-seine fishing effort within the US exclusive economic zone waters surrounding the archipelago may be contributing to high shark abundance and depredation levels.

Shark depredation in waters offshore of Guam. Photo courtesy of James Borja.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council staff, along with partners at NOAA, is putting together a plan to tackle this issue and come up with practical solutions.

Identification of the shark species and their residency, the catch rates of target species before and after depredation and the respective risks of depredation by certain shark species have yet to be verified and quantified.

Council staff is working on data collection systems, including mobile applications, for bottomfish fishermen (and event­ ually troll fishermen) to record target catch, fishing effort and record depredation events.

Underwater cameras such as GoPro and TrollPro can be used in pelagic troll fisheries and bottomfish fisheries in which depredation is occurring to identify shark species, observe their behavior and determine possible modifications to fishing practices to reduce depredation. These cameras are relatively inexpensive and do not require significant manpower to deploy.

Management measures based on results from such research could mitigate shark depredation in the region.

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

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Palolo Night in Ame rican Samoa!

The following is a first-hand account by Nate Ilaoa of the palolo harvest that took place in American Samoa on October 30, 2018. Palolo (Eunice viridis) are burrowing worms that live in the corals around the shallow areas of American Samoa and other South Pacific islands. Once or twice each year in the months of October and November, the worm breaks in half, releasing its epitoke (segmented tail section), which bears the reproductive cells. The epitoke swim en masse to the surface where they release eggs and sperm, while the front section of the worm (atoke) remains in the coral. The swarming brown and green epitoke segments are readily scooped up in nets by the residents of American Samoa from the reef or in boats just outside the reef. Lanterns and lights are used to attract the worms to the waiting fishers. Palolo, which many refer to as Samoan caviar, is a highly sought-after delicacy in the territory.

The Samoan cultural practice of harvesting the palolo was closely connected to plants. It was believed that a successful harvest depended on how many moso‘oi flowers bloomed on a cananga tree in the months of October and November.

Village residents would traditionally prepare for a successful harvest by bathing with moso‘oi and other fragrant blossoms and holding special festivals prior to the harvest to ensure a fruitful catch. Palolo was also an important component of the Samoan culture as the catch was shared among the entire village in a practice known as valelei. This kept the community close and fostered good relations among the families of the village.

2:30 p.m. – I am sitting in the office of the Va‘amua Henry Sesepasara, the director of the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR). He is meeting with his Wildlife Division chief and the captain of the Enforcement Division’s boat. They are discussing the palolo harvest that is expected to occur late tonight through early tomorrow morning. The staff is planning to observe the harvest and, of course, take the opportunity to collect one of the rarest and most highly sought-after delicacies in American Samoa. As Sesepasara gives instructions about location and logistics to his crew, he pauses and turns his attention to me.

“How would you like to go ka palolo (palolo fishing) with the staff tonight?” he asks.

I quickly agree, and we all plan to meet at the DMWR Marina Dock in Fagatogo Village later that night. I head back to my office and try my best to focus on the tasks of the day and not glance at the clock too often. I am excited because I have gone ka palolo almost every year since I was 12 years old, and most of the time it was about the same experience—wading in waist-high water on the reef for hours, freezing and, in most years, going home with about 48 to 64 ounces of palolo 10

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

to share amongst everyone in the family. However, the best harvest I had ever experienced was the one year we went out on a friend’s boat and harvested palolo off the south coast. We filled two 5-gallon buckets, and everyone had a blast scooping palolo with homemade nets from the side of the boat.

There is a lot of excitement in the territory this year because it is supposed to be a good harvest if the traditional rules are correct. In the Samoan culture, there are four rules used to predict the appearance and amount of palolo in American Samoa each year, and they depend on the date of the third quarter moon in October (seven days after the full moon).

Those rules are as follows: 1. If the 3rd quarter moon appears between the 1st and 8th days of October, the harvest will not take place until November; 2. If the 3rd quarter moon appears between the 8th and 18th days of October, the harvest will be a weak one or will not appear at all until November; 3. If the 3rd quarter moon appears between the 19th of October and 7th of November, there will be only one, very strong harvest on that date; 4. If the 3rd quarter moon appears between the 8th and 17th days of November, there will be a strong harvest on that date and possibly a weaker harvest preceding it in October.

This year, the full moon occurred on Oct. 22, which placed the night of the third quarter moon on Oct. 29. If the traditional rules hold true, it should be a very strong harvest.

There has been a good amount of talk around the territory and a lot of buzz on social media about the optimism of this year’s palolo harvest. The idea of going out on the DMWR boat has me giddy with excitement. The thought of a potentially large haul of those delicious little worms makes the minutes and hours go by very slowly the rest of the afternoon.

4:30 p.m. – I shut down my laptop, pack up my belongings, jump into my car and head home.

Gear stowed on the vessel, ready to go.

On the way, I stop at Tropik Traders, a small store with the largest selection of fishing equipment on island. The nets I have at home are all short-handled ones, and most have netting that is too large to adequately scoop up the small palolo worms. Unfortunately, I waited too long to buy nets, and they are sold out. Contin­ uing westward, I stop in at ACE Hardware; the nets there

have also been sold out. I channel my inner MacGyver and purchase a pool skimmer and some nylon screen. I also pur­ chase some D batteries for my flashlight and find a nifty headband LED light with 1,800 lumens. I make mental note to not look at people directly when I’m wearing it on the boat later that night.

I arrive at the house 20 minutes later. I cut the flat netting from the pool skimmer and use 5-pound monofilament fishing line to attach a large cutout of the nylon screen, making a nice, deep net with very small holes—perfect for palolo fishing. I put the new batteries in the flashlight, fill a small cooler with water and Gatorade, and pack my gear in the car. After an early dinner with the family, I attempt to take a nap in anticipation of a long night with little or no sleep, but that is a futile exercise as the anticipation makes sleep impossible. After what seems like the longest three hours ever, it’s time to head out.

9:45 p.m. – I arrive at the DMWR marina and carry my gear to the dock. The captain and the other seven passengers load their gear onto the boat, and the crew makes its final check to make sure we’re ready.

Scooping palolo from the boat.

of Mulinu‘u by some local fishermen, in a spot that has had a good amount of palolo in recent years. We find the buoy and begin to search the area, slowly canvassing the shallows with everyone fixing their lights on the surface in hopes of spotting the first palolo swimming through the water. One other boat is near us. Ingeniously rigged on its sides are large fluorescent ceiling lights, illuminating a large area of water around the boat. Our crew talks about trying this on future palolo trips.

1:17 a.m. – “Palolo!” The call comes from one of the guys on the bow of the boat. Off the starboard side of the boat, three palolo worms wiggle toward the light from my headband LED light. I grab my tricked-out pool skimmer and scoop them up. Two brown ones and a green one (the brown ones are male and the green one is a female). I look up to tell my fellow harvesters the good news only to find them all busily scooping up palolo as well.

Waiting for the captain to say it’s time to go.

“It’s too early,” the captain tells us, “there won’t be palolo this soon.” We sit around the dock and tell palolo stories.

Luckily, I had packed my Bluetooth speaker so we had a steady stream of music to keep us entertained while we waited for the captain to give us the green light.

12:05 a.m. – My phone rings. My friend Brian is calling to say there is no palolo so far and people are beginning to think that it’s another year of weak showing. He’s on the reef near the airport and says some people have already given up and gone home.

Palolo swarm

12:10 a.m. – “Alright, let’s go!” says the captain, and everyone jumps in the boat.

We head west out of Pago Pago Harbor toward the grounded longline vessel near Mulinu‘u (the tip of Coconut Point) in Nu‘uuli Village. A buoy had been placed about a quarter mile off

For the next half hour, we scoop up random palolo as they swim by the boat—one here, three there—never a large cluster, just scattered palolo. By this time, nine other boats are in the vicinity, each one circling the area with their passengers scooping palolo. A few harvesters even make it to the buoy without boats.

The prospect of palolo on toast or in their scrambled eggs the next morning was too enticing to pass up the opportunity, so Inspired by the prospect of palolo, they have rigged coolers those without boats used coolers as to act as floatation devices floats to buoy themselves to in the as they swim around near waters outside the harbor. the boats, scooping up palolo with hand nets. Every so often, we hear one of the other boat captains shouting at the swimmers to watch out when they ventured too close to the front of the boats.

1:49 a.m. – The water suddenly explodes with swarm after swarm of palolo! It’s so thick that the poles of the nets bow as they are pulled up from the weight of the worms inside.

I have never seen this much palolo in my entire life! The water around us looks like a giant pot of linguine when it hits that rolling boil stage. No one is speaking—everyone is too busy scooping palolo. I take a minute to upload some (continued on next page)

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018 11

Palolo Night!

(continued from page 11)

video and photos onto Facebook showing how much palolo was in the water.

4:59 a.m. – I am a zombie as I step out of the shower, throw on my pajamas and climb into bed.

2:15 a.m. – A sudden wave of nausea sweeps over me. I am overcome by an overwhelming urge to pua‘i (vomit). I have to sit down in the cabin next to the captain. He suggests that I stick my head out the doorway to get some fresh air. He angles the boat so that the offshore breeze hits me in the face, and I am instantly relieved from the Palolo worms. seasickness. I make a mental note to take Dramamine before I go ka palolo again. I am also suddenly aware of my phone buzzing like mad. I look on the phone and see nearly two dozen Face­book messages and texts from friends and family asking for palolo. Even at this late hour, people have been scouring social media searching for people who have palolo.

4:59:10 a.m. – I am in the deepest of slumbers.

6:02 a.m. – I am suddenly alert as my phone cries out.

It can’t be the alarm. I disabled that the night before in anticipation of sleeping in. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and fumble around for my glasses. It’s my mom calling. I answer the phone sleepily.

2:24 a.m. – Having nearly filled every bucket, cooler, Tupperware and other con­tainer to the brim, some of the people on the boat decide they want to swim in the palolo swarm. The three who jump in say that it’s a very weird but cool feeling to have worms wriggling all over them. One of the ladies says that it’s much easier to scoop them up this way. “I just hold out my net and let the boat and the current do all the work,” she says.

3:12 a.m. – The captain calls everyone to jump back in the boat and to stow the nets. He angles the boat toward the buoy at the harbor entrance and opens up the throttle.

The rushing wind and sea spray on my face erases the last remnants of seasickness. When we get back to the DMWR marina, the sizable catch of palolo is divvied up among the captain and crew and a sizable portion is set aside for the director who paid for the fuel for this trip out of pocket.

Equipment is washed down, and the boat is cleaned. I fight off sleepiness as I load my net, lights and pack back into my car. I thank the captain and DMWR staff for the Palolo in Ziploc bags ready for freezer storage. Photo opportunity to courtesy of Alvina Savali. ka palolo on the boat and then head home. I get home about 40 minutes later, stow my gear and transfer my palolo into Ziploc bags— one for my parents, one for my boss in Honolulu and one for us—before placing them in the freezer.

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Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

Eggs with sauteed palolo and garlic for breakfast. Photo courtesy of Alvina Savali.

“Good morning, son! Please bring the palolo over so Dad and I can have it for breakfast.”

Looks like sleep will have to wait.

7:08 a.m. – Despite being asleep on my feet, I snap to it when a plate of green eggs and a small bowl of palolo sautéed in garlic and butter are placed in front of me—a meal we only get to enjoy once every year. Being on the boat the night before to harvest the palolo is a memory I’ll keep for the rest of my life. It was a great harvest this year.

As I enjoy breakfast with my parents, we receive calls from relatives about the crazy prices people are paying for palolo in local stores. Supply and demand drive the price of a halfgallon container of palolo anywhere from $100 to $200. I guess I will be very popular this week.

Hawai‘i Fisheries Outlook Is Positive with Room to Grow species caught by Hawai‘i fishermen.

Although the big-scale variety is desirable on the dinner table, the lustrous pomfret, a seamountassociated species found in abundance south of the main Hawaiian Islands, is the more highly prized species due to its high meat yield and texture.

The big-scale or sickle pomfret is the more common monchong species. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Seafood Council.

Hawai‘i fisheries in 2017 and 2018 were full of good news. Landings of yellowfin tuna and pomfret increased, new scientific information showed tuna stocks to be healthier than previously thought and several fisheries have room to expand.

Yellowfin tuna experienced record catches in 2017 through­out the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), including Hawai‘i where yellowfin ex-vessel revenue increased nearly 50 percent, from $14.5 million in 2016 to $21.1 million in 2017.

Hawai‘i monchong (big-scale or sickle pomfret), a pelagic species with a relatively high market value, also showed a recent increase in catch and catch rates. These tasty but unpleasant-looking fish have been caught in staggering numbers by the Hawai‘i longline fishery. In some recent years, monchong catches have exceeded ono and mahi combined!

According to Dave Itano, a pelagic fishery consultant and member of the Scientific and Statistical Committee of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, as the deepset longline fishery was developing in Hawai‘i to target bigeye, fishermen became increasingly keen to catch monchong as non-targeted species, even modifying their gear so that they could efficiently catch this ancillary species while still fully targeting bigeye tuna. This fishery is an opportunity for Hawai‘i fishermen to fully utilize their non-target catch while also providing Hawai‘i consumers with another excellent fish to enjoy.

The big-scale or sickle pomfret is a common, open-water species of monchong and one of two monchong

Council staff and research partners are working to determine status indicators for and more knowledge about the life history of monchong and other incidentally caught pelagic species.

Additional good news for Hawai‘i fisheries are the recent stock assessments for bigeye and yellow­ fin tuna in the WCPO, which show neither stock to be overfished nor experiencing overfishing. Further­more, yellowfin recruitment may have been positively impacted by the El Niño event three years ago.

Prospects for several other fisheries in the coming years look favorable for Hawai‘i as they are currently not being fished to their optimum yield.

The North Pacific swordfish was assessed in 2018 and found to be underutilized with total catch at twothirds its maximum sustainable yield.

Deep-water shrimp known as amaebi are experiencing relatively low fishing pressure around the Hawaiian Islands. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

Deep-water shrimp known as amaebi (Heterocarpus laevigatus and H. ensifer) are experiencing relatively low fishing pressure. These species have not been in the mainstream restaurant market lately, but some fishermen are fishing for them upon request. Fishermen are reporting catching amaebi along the deep canyons off Hawai‘i using deepwater traps.

The Hawai‘i Kona crab, previously considered to be in bad shape based on a 2015 sock assessment, may actually be underutilized. In fact, the stock is not overfished or experiencing overfishing, according to some soonto-be published scientific information

by Council contractors and a recent, externally reviewed assessment report.

Kona crabs are caught using a daisy

Kona crab caught off Kona. Did you know Kona crabs are called “spanner crabs” in Australia because their claws are shaped like a spanner wrench?

chain of baited “hoop nets” with mesh used to entangle the crustaceans.

Research by Council contractors Cassie Pardee and John Wiley (Poseidon Fisheries Research LLC) found that these crabs are quite hardy and released catch usually survive, even growing back claws that may have been lost through net entanglement.

The number of fishermen participating in the Kona crab fishery has dwindled over the years to just a few reporting commercial catch. Some fishermen say the State statute on the no-take of females is keeping the fishery from being worthwhile because females comprise much of the catch in some time periods. The catchability of Kona crabs has likely declined due to a lack of longtime knowledgebase among younger fishers and a steep learning curve among new fishers. But most fishermen agree that the fishery has quite a bit of potential, despite the learning curve.

So if you see monchong, local amaebi or Kona crabs at the fish market, support the viable local fisheries by giving them a try!

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018 13

Reflections on the Hawai‘i Summer Marine Science Class

By Sienna Sonoda Taking the summer marine science program at Moanalua High School, which was sponsored by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (also known as WESPAC), was really an experience of a lifetime. I’ve made so many new friends and experienced so many different things. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity!

In the beginning, everything was completely awkward and quiet because no one knew each other, except for those who came from the same school. In our class of 16 students of various grade levels, we had six different schools represented. As we embarked on our five-week journey together, with the first two weeks being classroom lectures followed by three weeks of constant field trips, we all got to be such good friends. We would hang out with each other after class, and even came together later to create a book about the different stressors affecting our Hawaiian fishery. During our first two weeks of class, we were visited by many people who gave us the background information we needed to know before we went on our field trips.

From professors who taught economics, to college students and a limu specialist, to marine scientists, to government workers in the field, to an expert on Hawaiian culture, they all played extremely important roles in every place that we visited later.

The last three weeks of field trips was the best part of this class and the most fun! We started with witnessing a sea turtle necropsy and ended with our four-day trip to Moloka‘i. Needless to say one of my favorite field trips was the turtle necropsy, and that’s saying a lot from a teenage girl who can’t even see a bug without running in the other direction! We of course had many chances to go fishing, a

couple times from land and once from a boat off the shores of Waikiki. From all this fun and outdoor excitement, our class got about three shades darker from the sun by the time we ended!

Our final class project was the most time consuming thing that I participated in all summer. A few of my friends and I kept coming into class for about a week after the course ended to help edit our book and tell our story. It was a collaborative effort involving everyone in our class to tell the truth about things that happen in the fishery and that it is not only fishermen who cause fish populations to decline.

We used the knowledge we gained during the course to put together this small informational book using pictures that we took from all of our field trips, including places like Maunalua Bay. Thank you to WESPAC for sponsoring this class, and espe­ cially Mark Mitsuyasu for always coming to help out. I encourage everyone to take this class! Every teacher was amazing, especially Erron Yoshioka who ran the class and was like a father to all of us during the course. Ethan Paraso also spent his summer vacation time with us and made the car rides some of the most memorable I’ve ever had. This was really a life changing class.

From going to the WESPAC offices to a trip to Moloka‘i for the first time is truly something I will never forget. I can say that this class has changed the way I look at the environment and our ocean. As a current senior at Moanalua High School, I am considering majoring in marine science. I originally wanted to major in music, performing arts and/or education, but I will now be applying to schools like Hawai‘i Pacific University for marine biology and will see where life takes me after that!

Students from six high schools attended the 2018 Hawaii marine science summer course, sponsored by the Council in partnership with the Moanalua High School. Pictured on the far right is Erron Yoshioka, the course instructor.

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Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

FO L LOW I NG T HE P O KE TR E N D AROU N D T HE WORL D with raw ‘ahi (bigeye or yellowfin tuna), Hawaiian salt, sesame oil, ogo (Gracilaria parvisipora and G. coronopifolia, or limu manauea), chili pepper, shoyu (soy sauce) and chopped onions has become the Hawai‘i gold standard. At more casual establishments such as neighborhood markets and grocery stores, poke is either served atop a small bowl of rice or poi (fermented taro root) for take-out. Upscale restaurants experiment more liberally with their recipes and presentations. Poke bowls have hundreds of variations, with a wide range of ingredients that reflect the multicultural communities living statewide.

Poke store in Holland. Photo courtesy of Michael Markrich.

Poke, pronounced poh-keh, literally means “to slice, cut crosswise into pieces.” Poke is typically comprised of raw fish sliced into cubes accompanied by marinades or seasonings among other various accoutrements. There are disagreements as to when the name and dish became associated with one another, with some suggesting that it didn’t emerge until the late 1960s.

The first documented recipes didn’t appear until the early 1970s. It is likely, however, that poke existed long before it was known by that name and utilized natural resources of the immediate area to provide sustenance for native Hawaiians and other early residents of the Hawaiian Islands.

In Hawai‘i, poke is ubiquitous; it is avai­ lable at grocery stores, gas stations, bars and upscale restaurants. Sam Choy, Hawaiian Regional Cuisine chef, has called poke “Hawaii’s soul food” and “the King of Island foods.” Tradition­ ally it was made from raw fish (usually reef fish), limu ali‘i or limu kohu (two varieties of edible seaweed), largegrained salt and roasted ground kukui nut. More recently, “shoyu” poke, made

It’s not surprising that poke became popular outside of the Hawaiian Islands.

Poke itself is attractive, usually with a wide range of colors and textures often described as “deconstructed sushi.”

What has made it especially attractive to consumers in the US mainland and around the world is that it is a healthy meal that is relatively affordable, easy to take out and customizable to one’s preferences. The poke trend has taken its place among the new wave of “fast-casual” eateries. It is no secret anymore that opening an establish­ ment to serve poke is much easier and more economical than other types of restaurants; no oven, stove, grease trap or industrial venting are required, making these spots universal in more locations around the world. Poke shops have opened in Los Angeles, New York, London and Tokyo, among many other locales.

to highlight the taste of fish, many mainland poke restaurants indulge in more and more toppings to go on their poke bowls via “down-the-line” serv­ ing methods. Avocado, coconut flakes and even sweet strawberry sauce can be found on poke bowls in Southern California, and certain shops in New York are happy to replace the raw fish with hot dogs.

Frozen Washington-state poke sold at Target.

Poke has even made its way into the United Kingdom. The national chain Pret a Manger became among the first to add poke to its lunch menu, though the dish was built on marinated mushrooms. With the large draw to poke being the variety of seasonings, bases and toppings that can be used, those in the UK generally refer to the dish as a “poke salad.” Online descriptions of UK poke salad bowls point to inspiration from California with avocado, pickle, mango, pineapple, quinoa, coriander, citrus dressing and salsa offerings.

Some other countries where poke bowls are being introduced already have esta­blished dishes that fill the niche of poke in one way or another.

The poke scene in the continental Uni­ Japan has a dish called chirashi, for ted States has been taken in stride and example, which is typically a mixture of influenced by the mainland consumer, rice and several different kinds of raw with wide range of options for base fish with no real sauce or marinade. sauces and additional veggies to create Even chirashi has been pulled into bowls that are certainly different from the poke craze, with several New York their origins in Hawai‘i. Although in restaurants introducing chikarashi, a Hawai’i poke doesn’t have many topping poke and chirashi fusion.

Recipe Limu Poke Ingredients 1 lb ‘ahi, aku or marlin, cut into bite-sized cubes ¼ tsp inamona (kukui nut), chopped fine ¼ cup chopped ogo (limu or seaweed) ¼ tsp chili pepper, to taste Preparation 1 tsp Hawaiian rock salt Gently mix fish and inamona. Add other ingredients and mix gently. Do not smash (Previously featured in Pacific Islands Fishery News, Fall 1996) cubed fish by over mixing. Chill and serve.

Above: The Hawaiian and Hawai‘i local names for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are ‘ahi and shibi. Left: The Hawaiian and Hawai‘i local names for bigeye tuna (T. obesus) are ‘ahi, ‘ahi po‘onui and mebachi.

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018 15

2018-19 Council Calendar

Connect with the Council on Social Media

Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/wprfmc) Follow us on Twitter (@wpcouncil) Check us out on YouTube (youtube.com/wpcouncil) and Vimeo (vimeo.com/wprfmc)

December

February

Upcoming Events

9-14 15th Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries, Honolulu

11-15 Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review Territory Bottomfish Meeting, Honolulu

Protected Species Advisory Committee will meet by teleconference and webinar on Monday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (HST). The major agenda items are managing log­ gerhead and leatherback sea turtle interactions in the Hawai‘i-based shallow-set longline fishery and the 2020-2024 research priorities. The teleconference numbers are U.S. toll-free 1 (888) 482-3560 or International +1 (647) 723-3959; the Access Code is 5228220. To join the webinar, go to https://wprfmc.webex.com/join/info.wpcouncilnoaa.gov. The host site is 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawai‘i. This is a public meeting and includes a public comment period.

17 Protected Species Advisory Committee, Honolulu and by teleconference 17 175th Council meeting, Honolulu and by teleconference

2019 January 19-27 7th South Pacific Regional Fishery Management Organization annual meeting, The Hague, Netherlands* 22-24 Marine Recreational Information Program Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishing Survey and Creel Survey Workshop, Honolulu*

12-14 NOAA Protected Species Assessment Workshop II, La Jolla, CA* 25-28 Winter Council Coordination Committee Meeting, Washington, DC*

March 12-14 131st Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting, Honolulu 18-21 176th Council Meeting, Honolulu *Meetings are not hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

The Hawai‘i longline fishery is required to carry and use dip nets, line clippers, bolt cutters and other mitigation gear and follow handling, resuscitation and release requirements for incidentally hooked or entangled sea turtles as well as attend mandatory annual protected species workshops for all vessel owners and operators.

The Council and its Protected Species Advisory Committee are considering additional measures to ad­dress logger­ head and leather­back sea turtle interactions in the shallow-set portion of the fishery.

175th Meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will convene by tele­ conference and webinar on Monday, Dec. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. (HST), which corresponds to 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in American Samoa and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, in Guam and the CNMI. The major agenda item is managing loggerhead and leatherback sea turtle interactions in the Hawai‘i-based shallow-set longline fishery, for which the Council is expected to take final action. The teleconference numbers are U.S. toll-free 1 (888) 482-3560 or International Access +1 (647) 723-3959; the Access Code is 5228220. To join the webinar, go to https://wprfmc.webex.com/join/info. wpcouncilnoaa.gov. The host sites are a) 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawai‘i; b) Native American Samoa Advisory Council Office Conference Rm., Pava‘ia‘i Village, Pago Pago, American Samoa; c) Guam Hilton Resort and Spa, 202 Hilton Rd., Tumon Bay, Guam; and d) Department of Land and Natural Resources Conference Rm., Lower Base Dr., Saipan, CNMI. This is a public meeting and includes a public comment period.

Written comments for the 175th Council meeting should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. (HST), Dec. 13, 2018. Comments should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPRFMC, and mailed to 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813; faxed to 808 5228226; or emailed to info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.

Council Family Updates Frederick McGrew Rice, a sixth generation fisher­ man in Hawai’i, has been appoint­ed by the Secretary of Commerce to fill the atlarge seat on the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council that became vacant in July with the passing of Edwin A. Ebisui Jr. McGrew’s appointment begins Dec. 1, 2018. He will serve through Aug. 10, 2020. McGrew had previously served two three-year terms on the Council. A full-time charter boat captain in Kona, McGrew brings with him decades of fisheries knowledge based on first-hand experience.

At its 174th meeting in October, the Council made the following appointments: 2019 COUNCIL OFFICERS: Archie Soliai, chair; Christina Lutu, vice chair, American Samoa; 16

Pacific Islands Fishery News | Fall 2018

Dean Sensui, vice chair, Hawai‘i; Michael Duenas, vice chair, Guam; and John Gourley, vice chair, CNMI. 2019-2022 ADVISORY PANEL MEMBERS: AMERICAN SAMOA: Krista Corry, Sam Meleisea, Carlos Sanchez, Dustin Snow, Will Sword and Brian Thompson and, as alternate members, Joseph Faaita, Edgar Feliciano and Nonu Tuisamoa; COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS: Richard Farrell, Mike Fleming, Perry Mesngon, Cecilio Raiukiulipiy, Raymond Teregeyo and Jun Yamagishi and, as alternates, Floyd Masga and Ray Tebuteb; GUAM: Judith Amesbury, James Borja, Ken Borja, Jason Miller, Matthew Orot and Felix Reyes and, as alternates, Jason Biggs, Tatiana Talavera and Albert Yanger; and HAWAI‘I: Nathan Abe, Khang Dang, Ed Ebisui III, Carrie Johnston, Gil Kualii and Clay Tam and, as alternates, Michael Lee, Shyla Moon and Matt Yamamoto.

PACIFIC ISLANDS FISHERY NEWS is published by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400 Honolulu, HI 96813 www.wpcouncil.org Telephone: (808) 522-8220 Fax: (808) 522-8226 info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov CHAIR John Gourley - CNMI (acting) VICE CHAIRS Michael Duenas - Guam Dean Sensui - Hawai‘i Archie Soliai - American Samoa EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kitty M. Simonds All rights reserved. Unsolicited material will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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