The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC, also referred to as "Westpac", WestPac", or the "Council") is one of eight regional councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) in 1976 to manage offshore fisheries. The Council is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Council's jurisdiction includes the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters (generally 3–200 miles offshore) around the State of Hawaii; US Territories of American Samoa and Guam; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and the US Pacific remote island areas of Johnston, Midway, Palmyra and Wake Atolls; Baker, Howland and Jarvis Islands; and Kingman Reef. This area of nearly 1.5 million square miles is the size of the continental United States and constitutes about half of the entire US EEZ. It spans both sides of the equator and both sides of the dateline. The Council also manages domestic fisheries based in the US Pacific Islands that operate on the high seas.
Role The WPRFMC fulfills a central role in the management of the nation's marine fisheries resources. Its primary role is to prepare, monitor and amend management plans for offshore fisheries based in the Western Pacific Region. Each plan contains a suite of management measures and associated regulations that have been implemented to support sustainable fisheries, reduce and mitigate interactions with protected species, and conserve marine habitat and ecosystems.
The plans and fishery regulations are dynamic and reflect the WPRFMC's adaptive management, which monitors and addresses changing conditions based on the best available information. In developing these plans, the WPRFMC provides a public forum for decision-making and works closely with communities, local governments, federal agencies and local and international organizations.
The MSA authorizes fishery management councils to create Fishery Management Plans (FMP). Since the 1980s, the WPRFMC has managed fisheries throughout the Western Pacific Region through separate species-based FMPs – the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish FMP., the Crustaceans FMP, the Precious Corals FMP, the Coral Reef Ecosystems FMP and the Pelagic FMP
However, in 2010, the WPRFMC began moving towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and is restructuring its management framework from species-based FMPs to place-based FEP. Recognizing that a comprehensive ecosystem approach to fisheries management must be initiated through an incremental, collaborative, and adaptive management process, a multi-step approach is being used to develop and implement the FEPs. To be successful, this will require increased understanding of a range of issues including, biological and trophic relationships, ecosystem indicators and models, and the ecological effects of non-fishing activities on the marine environment.
The WPRFMC currently has five place-based FEPs, one each for Hawaii, American Samoa and Mariana (Guam and CNMI) Archipelagos; one for the US Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIAs); and another for the Pacific Pelagic fisheries. The approach of these management plans allows explicit consideration to be given to the ecosystem interactions within each of the areas managed by the WPRFMC.
International roles Vessels from Hawaii fish on the high seas in both the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, which are included in the jurisdictions of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, respectively. The Council is involved in these regional fishery management organizations and other international bodies and initiatives to address resource management issues such as marine debris, marine education, and conservation of tuna and tuna-like species, seamount resources, deepwater corals and protected species, including seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals and sharks.
Local roles The WPRFMC also plays a significant facilitation role in the Community Demonstration Project Program (CDPP), Community Development Program, and Marine Education and Training Program. These programs were created by Congress through the MSA to promote continued participation of indigenous communities in Pacific Island fisheries. The WPRFMC also supports fishery development and resource management projects identified in the Marine Conservation Plans of American Samoa, Guam and CNMI through the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF), also established by the MSA.
Components of the WPRFMC system The WPRFMC system is composed of Council Members, Council Staff, and advisory bodies that advise the Council and the public that participates in the Council decision-making process.
Composition The Council has 13 voting members and three non-voting members.
8 of the 13 voting members are private citizens who are familiar with the commercial and/or non-commercial fisheries, marine conservation or both. Four members must be from each of the island areas of American Samoa, CNMI, Guam and Hawaii. The other four seats are at-large seats. All eight members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from lists submitted by the Governors of each of the island areas. They serve 3 year terms and can serve up to 3 consecutive terms. The last 5 voting members represent: the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Guam Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. The 3 non-voting members who assist the Council in decision making are: The US Coast Guard-14th District, US Department of State and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Advisory bodies When reviewing potential regulatory changes, the WPRFMC also draws upon the services of knowledgeable people from local and federal agencies, universities and the public, who serve on WPRFMC panels and committees. Advisory bodies include the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), the Advisory Panel (AP), the Archipelagic and Pelagic Plan Teams, Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees (REAC) and other committees. Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) – The SSC reviews the scientific and technical aspects of fisheries in the western Pacific Region and provides the Council with management recommendations. SSC members are resource economists, biologists, sociologists, population modelers and other experts. Plan Teams – The council has teams of scientists, managers and industry representatives who make recommendations to the Council based on their annual review of the region's bottomfish and seamount groundfish, coral reef ecosystem, crustaceans, pelagics and precious coral fisheries. Advisory Panel (AP) – The council receives advice from a panel of recreational and commercial fishermen, charter boat operators, buyers, sellers, consumers and other knowledgeable about the fisheries in the region, including indigenous fisheries. the panel includes sub panels for the American Samoa Archipelago, Hawaii Archipelago, Mariana Archipelago and Pacific Pelagic Ecosystem. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees (REAC) – The Council receives advice from the American Samoa, Hawaii and Mariana Archipelago REACs. each REAC brings together Council members and representatives from federal, state and local government agencies; businesses; and non-governmental organizations with responsibility and interest in land-based and non-fishing activities that potentially affect the marine ecosystem of the relevant archipelago. Other Advisory Bodies – The Council convenes and solicits recommendations from a variety of other committees as warranted, such as its Protected Species Advisory Committee, Social Science Planning Committee, Non-Commercial Advisory Committee, Marine Protected Area Advisory Committee, Hawaii Bottomfish Advisory Review Board (BARB), Marine Planning and Climate Change Committee and Fisheries Data Coordinating Committee.
Achievements In 1983, thru the Precious Corals Fishery Management Plan (FMP), the WPRFMC prohibited bottom trawling and other non-discriminatory and destructive coral collection methods throughout the WPRFMC's 1.5 million square mile jurisdiction. Also in 1983, the WPRFMC established the Crustacean FMP which helped to pioneer satellite-monitoring of fishing vessels and develop an observer program for on-site collection from commercial vessels. In 1984, WPRFMC cohosts the 1st of 3 international marine debris conferences, the 2nd in 2000, the 3rd in 2003. These conferences helped development the Honolulu Derelict Net Recycling Program in 2006 1986 WPRFMC establishes Bottomfish & Seamount Groundfish FMP Bottom trawling and other potentially destructive gear banned throughout the Region's entire 1.5 million square nautical miles of EEZ waters. Fishing by large commercial vessels are restricted around Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands(NWHI). Seamount groundfish moratorium at Hancock Seamount in NWHI. The WPRFMC instituted limited entry and observers for fishing vessels utilizing the NWHI. The WPRFMC set up quotas for NWHI and main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Both commercial and non-commercial fishing vessels have to get permits and report catches around the MHI. Vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements for >40-foot vessels in CNMI. 1987 WPRFMC establishes Pelagics FMP. The Pelagics FMP and its later amendments completed the below accomplishments: Drift gillnetting banned throughout the Region's entire 1.5 million square nautical miles of EEZ waters prior to Congress passing the Driftnet Impact Monitoring Assessment & Control Act. Limited entry programs for Hawaii and American Samoa. Spatial management near coastal areas—e.g., Protected Species Zone around the NWHI—to minimize impacts on protected species and user conflicts throughout Region. Automated satellite VMS utilized by WPRFMC, which implements its first application worldwide for fishing vessels. In 2006, Hawaii longline fishery deemed first environmentally responsible longline fishery in the world, using effective sea turtle (circle hooks and mackerel bait) and seabird mitigation (side- and night-setting) methods. Hawaii longline fishery determined to be 94% compliant when evaluated by the UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Longline observer coverage (100% Hawaii swordfish trips, 20% Hawaii tuna trips, 8–10% American Samoa trips). Mandatory closure after 17 loggerhead or 16 leatherback sea turtle interactions for Hawaii longline swordfish fishery. First workshop on South Pacific albacore longline fisheries convened by WPRFMC. 1990 Congress includes tunas in Magnuson Act 1996 WPRFMC instrumental in achieving amendments to the Magnuson Act to recognize indigenous fishing rights for native peoples and the unique historical, cultural, legal, political, and geographical circumstances of the Pacific Insular Areas and the critical importance of fisheries resources for their economic growth. 1997 WPRFMC initiates program to reduce albatross interactions with longline fisheries. Conducted a research project on Hawaii longline vessels to test mitigation techniques. First international black-footed albatross population dynamics workshop convened by WPRFMC. WPRFMC strategic goal of reducing seabird bycatch by over 90 percent achieved. 1999 WPRFMC convenes Recreational Fishing Data Task Force to work with State of Hawaii to re-implement the NMFS Recreational Fisheries data survey, which is accomplished in 2002 Also in 1999, WPRFMC hosts the Fourth Session of the Multilateral High-Level Conference for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean in February. The Fifth Session in September 1999 hosted by WPRFMC. The Sixth Session in April 2000 hosted by WPRFMC.