HONOLULU — The second day of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting focused on strengthening fishing communities and expanding access to federal seafood programs. 

NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler emphasized the importance of regional knowledge and fishing communities in federal fisheries management. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as a commercial fisherman, fishing captain and fisheries manager in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, he said those closest to the fisheries understand their regions best and that NOAA’s role is to support them.

“Your ocean is your treasure. I come from an island too and know that once a fishing community disappears or vanishes, the culture goes away, and we really don’t want that,” Piñeiro Soler said. He added that the administration wants to strengthen fishing communities and their ties to the ocean, and that this is a time to collaborate and provide the science. 

Council members raised regional priorities including the viability of American Samoa’s longline and tuna industries, South Pacific albacore allocations, competition from seafood imports and foreign fleets, and opportunities to expand tuna fisheries and quota flexibility in the CNMI.

Council Executive Director Kitty Simonds asked for NOAA’s support in moving quickly on Pacific monument fishing prohibitions and the separate sanctuary process, noting that accelerated fishery management amendments could require additional resources.

Piñeiro Soler pointed to the Administration’s forthcoming America First Seafood Strategy and efforts to strengthen domestic markets, processing capacity and the competitiveness of U.S. fisheries. 

NEW USDA OFFICE OPENS DOORS FOR PACIFIC FISHERIES 

The Council heard from Mike Illenberg of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Office of Seafood, established earlier this year to expand access to USDA programs for fishermen, seafood processors and aquaculture producers.

Illenberg said USDA is reviewing programs designed for agriculture to identify opportunities and barriers for seafood producers. Council members highlighted the need for better connections between Western Pacific fishing communities and local USDA offices and greater support for domestic seafood markets, including American Samoa’s U.S.-caught South Pacific albacore.

The Council recommended that the USDA Office of Seafood coordinate with the American Samoa Fisheries Task Force and explore adding U.S.-caught South Pacific albacore to the USDA Foods List through the Commodity Procurement Program. The Council also requested a Western Pacific fisheries webinar to increase awareness of the Office of Seafood, explain available USDA programs and identify opportunities for collaboration.

The Council will provide information on regional fisheries, including annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation reports, to local USDA Farm Service Agency and Rural Development offices to improve their familiarity with fisheries in Hawai‘i and the U.S. Pacific territories. 

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS GAPS IN FISHERY DISASTER RELIEF

Council members discussed findings from the U.S. Pacific Islands Fishing Resilience & Recovery Workshop, held Sept. 11–12, 2026, in Guam with 32 regional participants and representatives from Alaska, Pacific states and NOAA. 

Workshop participants identified priorities including better defined disaster-response roles, stronger baseline fisheries data and rapid damage assessments, improved communication with fishermen and federal programs that account for the scale and characteristics of Pacific Island fisheries. 

Since January 2026, four severe storms have affected the Western Pacific region, from the Mariana Islands to Hawaiʻi, with some communities still recovering from power outages and disruptions to water service. 

Participants highlighted a significant disparity in federal fishery disaster relief. Since 1994, almost $2.1 billion has been appropriated nationally and 138 fishery disaster determinations have been made, while the Pacific Islands have received $1 million from a single successful determination, following the 2009 American Samoa tsunami. The median time to disburse funds for approved requests has been 3.4 years. 

How to Join - The 208th Council meeting concludes Thursday, September 17.
In Person: (Host Sites)
    •    Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii
    •    Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam
    •    BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St. Garapan, Saipan, CNMI
Online: Via Webex: https://tinyurl.com/208CouncilMtg, Event password: CM208mtg
Agenda & Documents: www.wpcouncil.org/event/208th-council-meeting