Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 147th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and its 194th Council meeting to take actions on fishery ...
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 147th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and its 194th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council will also hold meetings of the following advisory groups and standing committees: Joint Meeting of the American Samoa Advisory Panel (AP), Hawaii AP, and Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC); Guam Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC); Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) REAC; Mariana Archipelago AP; and Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC) meeting.
DATES:
The meetings will be held between March 14 and March 31, 2023. For specific times and agendas, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
.
ADDRESSES:
The 147th SSC meeting will be held in a hybrid format with in-person and remote participation (Webex) options available for the SSC members, and public attendance limited to web conference via Webex. In-person attendance for the SSC members will be hosted at the Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
The Joint Meeting of the American Samoa AP, Hawaii AP and FIAC will be held by web conference via Webex.
The Guam REAC, CNMI REAC, Mariana Archipelago AP, and the 194th Council Meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting for Council members and public, with remote participation option available via Webex. The Executive and Budget SC will be held as an in-person meeting for Council members and public. The in-person portion of the Guam REAC meeting will be held at the Governor's Main Conference Room, 513 West Marine Corps Drive, Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex, Hagatna, GU 96910. The in-person portion of the CNMI REAC, Mariana Archipelago AP, and Executive and Budget SC will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Coral Tree Ave., Saipan, MP 96950. The first two days of the 194th Council meeting and the CNMI Fishers Forum will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Saipan, MP, and the last two days of the Council meeting will be held at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa, 202 Hilton Road, Tumon Bay, GU 96913. The Guam Fishers Forum will be held at the Guam Museum, 193 Chalan Santo Papa Juan Pablo Dos, Hagatna, GU 96910.
Specific information on joining the meeting, connecting to the web conference and providing oral public comments will be posted on the Council website at
www.wpcouncil.org.
For assistance with the web conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
Council address:
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The 147th SSC meeting will be held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on March 14, 2023, 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 15, 2023, and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 16, 2023. The Joint Meeting of the American Samoa AP, Hawaii AP and FIAC will be held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. HST on March 16, 2023. The Guam REAC meeting will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Chamorro Standard Time (ChST) on March 23, 2023. The CNMI REAC meeting will be held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ChST on March 24, 2023. The Mariana Archipelago AP meeting will be held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ChST on March 25, 2023. The Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held between 10:00 a.m. and 12 p.m. ChST on March 26, 2023. The portion of the Executive and Budget SC from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. will be closed to the public for employment matters in accordance with section 302(i)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The first two days of the 194th Council Meeting will be held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on March 27-28, 2023. The CNMI Fishers Forum will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ChST on March 27, 2023. The first Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ChST on March 28, 2023. The last two days of the 194th Council Meeting will be held between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on March 30-31, 2023. The second Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. ChST on March 30, 2023. The Guam Fishers Forum will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. ChST on March 30, 2023.
Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the March Council and its associated meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for publication, the Council anticipated convening the Standing Committee meeting as an in-person meeting only, and the Council meeting as an in-person meeting with a web conference attendance option. If public participation options will be modified, the Council will post notice on its website at
www.wpcouncil.org
by, to the extent practicable, 5 calendar days before each meeting.
( printed page 12659)
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 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.
Background documents for the 194th Council meeting will be available at
www.wpcouncil.org.
Written public comments on final action items at the 194th Council meeting should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, March 23, 2023, 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:
info@wpcouncil.org.
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. This meeting will be recorded (audio only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting.
Agenda for the 147th SSC Meeting
Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 146th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director Report
5. Island Fisheries
A. Western Pacific Bottomfish Fisheries
1. American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species (BMUS) Stock Assessment and Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review Update
2. Guam Bottomfish Data Workshops
B. Establishing Status Determination Criteria for Kona Crab Fisheries (Action Item)
1. Western and Central Pacific Ocean Longline Management Workshop
D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel
2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees
4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
14. Program Planning and Research
A. National Legislative Report
B. Territorial BMUS Revision Status Update
C. Updates on the NOAA Fisheries EEJ Strategy
D. Regional Communications & Outreach Report
E. Council Program Planning Report
F. Regional Coordination Meeting Reports
1. Council-Pacific Islands Regional Office
2. Council-Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
3. Council-State of Hawaii
G. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel
2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committees
4. Archipelagic Plan Team
5. Scientific & Statistical Committee
H. Public Comment
I. Council Discussion and Action
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ChST
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ChST
Fishers Forum: All About Bottomfish in the Mariana Islands
Friday, March 31, 2023, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ChST
15. American Samoa Archipelago
A. Motu Lipoti
B. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Report
C. Update on American Samoa Bottomfish Stock Assessment and Review
D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendation
1. Advisory Panel
2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
3. Scientific & Statistical Committee
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
16. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Family Changes
D. Meetings and Workshops
E. Executive and Budget Standing Committee Report
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
17. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 194th meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues 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 MSA, 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.