The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is set to take up two closely watched actions at its 206th meeting that could reopen access for U.S. commercial fishermen in parts of the Pacific long closed to harvest.
According to reporting from Maui Now, the Council will deliberate on management measures for the expanded Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, including waters around Wake and Jarvis Islands and Johnston Atoll. The discussion follows Presidential Proclamation 10918, issued April 17, 2025, directing federal regulators to allow appropriately managed U.S. commercial fishing between 50 and 200 nautical miles in those areas.
If approved, U.S. longline and purse seine vessels would be permitted to operate under strict federal requirements, including permits, catch limits, gear restrictions, observer coverage, and vessel monitoring systems aimed at ensuring compliance and minimizing impacts on protected species.
A second major agenda item centers on potential changes to fishing restrictions within the Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll, and Marianas Trench marine national monuments. An executive order issued the same day calls for a review of current restrictions, with the goal of supporting domestic seafood production while maintaining conservation standards. The Council is expected to consider options for restoring regulated commercial access under existing Magnuson-Stevens Act authority.
The decisions carry significant weight for fishing communities across the region. In Hawaii, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands fishery once supplied nearly half of the state’s bottomfish before closing in 2011, showing the potential economic and supply impacts tied to monument access.
The March 24-26 meeting in Honolulu is expected to draw strong participation from industry, scientists, and the public, as stakeholders weigh the balance between fishing access, seafood security, and marine conservation.
To view the full meeting agenda, click here.
