MINUTES OF THE 152nd MEETING OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL October 19 to 22, 2011 Laniakea YWCA-Fuller Hall 1040 Richards Street Held in Honolulu, Hawaii Approved by Council: _____________________________________ Manny Duenas, Chair Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Contents 1. Introductions ........................................................................................................................................ 7 2. Approval of the 152nd Agenda ........................................................................................................... 7 3. Approval of the 151st Meeting Minutes .............................................................................................. 8 4. Executive Director’s Report ................................................................................................................ 8 5. Agency Reports ................................................................................................................................. 10 A. National Marine Fisheries Service ............................................................................................. 10 1. Pacific Islands Regional Office .......................................................................................... 10 2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center .............................................................................. 8 B. NOAA Regional Counsel .......................................................................................................... 13 C. US Fish and Wildlife Service .................................................................................................... 15 D. Enforcement ............................................................................................................................... 16 1. US Coast Guard .................................................................................................................. 16 2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Report ....................................................................... 17 3. NOAA General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation ................................................. 17 E. Public Comment......................................................................................................................... 18 F. Council Discussion and Action .................................................................................................. 18 6. Program Planning and Research ........................................................................................................ 19 A. Specification of Annual Catch Limits (Action Item) ................................................................. 19 1. Species with No Maximum Sustainable Yield, Existing Quota or Reference Points (Tier 5) ............................................................................................................................. 19 a. Coral Reef Fish for All Island Areas .......................................................................... 19 b. Vulnerable Species for All Island Areas ..................................................................... 19 c. Mollusk, Crustaceans, Other Invertebrates for All Island Areas ............................... 21 2. Species with Maximum Sustainable Yield, Existing Quota or Reference Points (Tiers 3 and 4.) ................................................................................................................... 21 a. Coastal Pelagics in Hawaii.......................................................................................... 21 b. Non-Finfish for All Island Areas ................................................................................ 21 i. Lobster ................................................................................................................. 21 ii. Kona Crab ............................................................................................................ 23 iii. Deepwater Shrimp ............................................................................................... 23 iv. Black Corals ........................................................................................................ 24 2 v. Precious Corals .................................................................................................... 24 c. Bottomfish................................................................................................................... 25 i. American Samoa, Guam and CNMI Management Unit Species ........................ 25 ii. Non-Deep Seven Bottomfish Species for Hawaii ............................................... 26 B. Report on Essential Fish Habitat Review for American Samoa, Guam and CNMI Bottomfish and Other Management Unit Species ..................................................................... 26 C. Coastal Marine Spatial Planning ................................................................................................ 28 1. Regional Initiatives ............................................................................................................. 28 2. Report on Coastal Marine Spatial Planning Workshop ...................................................... 28 3. Indigenous Climate Change Summit .................................................................................. 28 D. Review of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Mangement Council Five-Year Research Priorities ..................................................................................................................... 29 E. Cooperative Research Priorities ................................................................................................. 30 F. Community Development Program Proposal: Traditional Fishing Training Program and Exemption to the Main Hawaiian Islands Pelagic Longline Closed Area (Action Item) ............................................................................................................................. 31 G. Report of National Marien Fisheries Science Center Biosampling Program ............................ 31 H. Update on the National/Regional Marine Recreational Fishing ................................................ 33 I. Hawaii Regional, National & International Education and Outreach........................................ 33 J. Scientific and Statistical Committee Recommendations ........................................................... 34 K. Hawaii Plan Team, Noncommercial Advisory Panel and Bottomfish Advisory Review Board Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 39 L. Response to National Marine Fisheries Service Letter on Council Recommended Fishing Regulations for Marine National Monuments .............................................................. 39 M. Public Comments ....................................................................................................................... 44 N. Council Discussion and Action .................................................................................................. 45 7. Marianas Archipelago ....................................................................................................................... 52 A. Arongo Flaeey ............................................................................................................................ 53 B. Isla Informe ................................................................................................................................ 53 C. Legislative Report ...................................................................................................................... 54 D. Enforcement Report ................................................................................................................... 54 E. Report of Marianas Trench MNM Science and Expo Workshop .............................................. 54 F. Community Activities and Issues .............................................................................................. 56 1. Marianas Military Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement Scoping ................ 57 3 G. Education and Outreach Initiatives ............................................................................................ 59 H. Sscientific and Statistical Commitee Recommendations ........................................................... 59 I. Public Comments ....................................................................................................................... 59 J. Council Discussion and Action .................................................................................................. 59 8. American Samoa Archipelago ........................................................................................................... 60 A. Motu Lipoti ................................................................................................................................ 60 B. Fono Report ............................................................................................................................... 63 C. Enforcement Issues .................................................................................................................... 64 D. Update on Community Fisheries Development ......................................................................... 64 E. Community Activities and Issues .............................................................................................