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Addressing overfishing in Addressing overfishing in the U.S. Western Pacific the U.S. Western Pacific

RegionRegion

Sean MartinSean Martin

WPRFMC ChairWPRFMC Chair

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Western Pacific Region: Membership comprises Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, CNMI & Hawaii (Total Population of citizens and % native)

1.2 million people

76,000 peoplemilitary base

wildlife refuges

60,000 people

150,000 people

23% Native

37% Native

88% Native

23% Native

Western Pacific Region: Membership comprises Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, CNMI & Hawaii (Total Population of citizens and % native)

1.2 million people

76,000 peoplemilitary base

wildlife refuges

60,000 people

150,000 people

23% Native

37% Native

88% Native

23% Native

Western Pacific Region: Membership comprises Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, CNMI & Hawaii (Total Population of citizens and % native)

1.2 million people

76,000 peoplemilitary base

wildlife refuges

60,000 people

150,000 people

23% Native

37% Native

88% Native

23% Native

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““Overfishing/Overfished”Overfishing/Overfished” issues in the WPR issues in the WPR

• Overfished Pelagic armorhead stockOverfished Pelagic armorhead stock

• Hawaiian Archipelago bottomfish Hawaiian Archipelago bottomfish stockstock

• Overfishing of Pacific bigeye tunaOverfishing of Pacific bigeye tuna

• Development of ACLs for potentially Development of ACLs for potentially hundreds of species with poor datahundreds of species with poor data

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Pelagic armorheadPelagic armorhead

Figure . Gradation in morphology and body depth in pelagic armorhead. Lower specimen represents a fish recently recruited to the seamount from the initial pelagic phase. Over time, armorhead on the seamount decline in body depth (middle specimen) and can become very emaciated in appearance (upper specimen).

Figure . The range of seamounts along the southern Emperor and northern Hawaiian Ridge (SE-NHR) (Koko Seamount in the northwest corner to Hancock Seamounts in the southeast corner) where the historic bottom trawl fishery for armorhead occurred.

Hancock Seamounts at the Northern Most End of the EEZ surrounding the Hawaiian Archipelago

Three examples of Armorhead as after they recruit to the seamounts (oldest at top)

International Armorhead Fishery

Domestic Waters

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Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of pelagic armorhead by Japanese trawlers

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Hawaiian Archipelago Hawaiian Archipelago BottomfishBottomfish• Archipelago-wide bottomfish stock is Archipelago-wide bottomfish stock is

in good shapein good shape

Overfished

Overfishing

Healthy

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Main Hawaiian Islands Main Hawaiian Islands BottomfishBottomfish• Bottomfish Amendment 14 established a Bottomfish Amendment 14 established a

management framework for:management framework for:– annual total allowable commercial catch annual total allowable commercial catch

(TAC) limits, (TAC) limits, – non-commercial (recreational and non-commercial (recreational and

subsistence) bag limits subsistence) bag limits – permit and data reporting for non-permit and data reporting for non-

commercial boat-based bottomfish fishery commercial boat-based bottomfish fishery in the MHI. in the MHI.

• MHI TAC of 241,000 pounds for 2008-09MHI TAC of 241,000 pounds for 2008-09– Zero % risk of archipelagic overfishingZero % risk of archipelagic overfishing– 40% risk of 'overfishing' of the MHI bottomfish 40% risk of 'overfishing' of the MHI bottomfish

sub-population in 08/09 fishing yearsub-population in 08/09 fishing year– Risk lowers to 25% in 09/10 fishing yearRisk lowers to 25% in 09/10 fishing year

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Pacific Bigeye TunaPacific Bigeye Tuna

• Bigeye in the WCPO is not overfished Bigeye in the WCPO is not overfished by WCPFC evaluation by WCPFC evaluation

• Bigeye is not overfished based on Bigeye is not overfished based on Council NS 1 Control RuleCouncil NS 1 Control Rule

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Pacific Bigeye TunaPacific Bigeye Tuna2007 Pelagics Amendment 14 recommended:• International and domestic management measures,

including:• mechanism for Council participation in international negotiations for pelagic stocks (disapproved); • international management action to end overfishing on bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks (approved and forwarded to Sec. of State and Congress for their consideration).

• Control date for Hawaii’s pelagic vessels (longline, purse seine, troll, handline, etc) (approved).

• Federal permits and reporting for Hawaii-based non-longline commercial pelagic vessels (disapproved).

WPRFMC has is taking action to regulate FAD fishing in the EEZ:

• Require FADs to be defined and registered• Prohibit purse seine catches around FADs in EEZ waters to

reduce catches of juvenile bigeye tuna• Final action expected at March meeting

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Pacific bigeye tunaPacific bigeye tuna5th Meeting of WCPFC in December 20085th Meeting of WCPFC in December 2008

• The US and other fresh-fish longline fisheries with landings less The US and other fresh-fish longline fisheries with landings less than 5,000 mt must reduce BET catches by 10% relative to the than 5,000 mt must reduce BET catches by 10% relative to the baseline (2004).baseline (2004).

• Most other longline fleets must reduce BET catches by 10% in Most other longline fleets must reduce BET catches by 10% in 2009, 20% in 2010, and 30% in 2011, relative to their 2001-2009, 20% in 2010, and 30% in 2011, relative to their 2001-2004 average:2004 average:– 2,000 mt/yr limit for CCMs that caught less than 2,000 mt/yr 2,000 mt/yr limit for CCMs that caught less than 2,000 mt/yr

during 2004;during 2004;– no limit for SIDS and Participating Territories;no limit for SIDS and Participating Territories;– reductions for China still to be developed.reductions for China still to be developed.

• YFT longline catches may not exceed 2001-2004 average.YFT longline catches may not exceed 2001-2004 average.• No output (catch controls) for purse seiners. Regulation of No output (catch controls) for purse seiners. Regulation of

fishing on FADs on high seas and EEZs and by Vessel Day fishing on FADs on high seas and EEZs and by Vessel Day Scheme for PNA members Scheme for PNA members

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Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) for Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) for near shore coastal and reef fish near shore coastal and reef fish

stocks stocks • Problem Statement: required to develop ACLs for all Problem Statement: required to develop ACLs for all

MUS by 20ll MUS by 20ll • Coastal and reef MUS are data-poor, have high Coastal and reef MUS are data-poor, have high

species diversity, impossible to generate scientific species diversity, impossible to generate scientific ACLs for allACLs for all

• Council's Archipelago Plan Team conducted risk Council's Archipelago Plan Team conducted risk ranking exercises to develop primary and secondary ranking exercises to develop primary and secondary lists of species considered to be most at risklists of species considered to be most at risk

• Council will vote on these at March meeting and Council will vote on these at March meeting and transmit to NMFS with recommendations for stock transmit to NMFS with recommendations for stock assessment prioritization based on risk rankingassessment prioritization based on risk ranking

• ACLs to be determined following stock assessmentsACLs to be determined following stock assessments

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FIN: Parting thoughtsFIN: Parting thoughts• Overfishing and the risk of overfishing have Overfishing and the risk of overfishing have

become 'fetishized' by NMFS.become 'fetishized' by NMFS.

• US has some of the best and most stringent US has some of the best and most stringent fishery management regimes fishery management regimes

• Many previously overfished stocks are Many previously overfished stocks are recovering or recoveredrecovering or recovered

• Councils and NMFS should proudly stand behind Councils and NMFS should proudly stand behind this record.this record.

• Effectively ending overfishing via catch limits Effectively ending overfishing via catch limits cannot be accomplished without additional cannot be accomplished without additional resources for NMFS and Regional Fishery resources for NMFS and Regional Fishery Management CouncilsManagement Councils

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PAUPAU