(Press Release) — Building on conversations from the Oct. 2025 meetings, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group will host the third round of community consultation meetings across the Mariana Islands in mid-April 2026.
Fishers, fishing families and community members are encouraged to attend and take part in discussions about changes affecting their fisheries and communities, from weather disruptions to rising economic pressures. These meetings are an opportunity to share what people are seeing on the water, discuss community priorities and help inform the federal fisheries management process.
The meetings will provide an update on what was heard from fishing communities in 2025, highlight recent actions taken in response to those concerns, share outcomes from a shark workshop held in February 2026, and outline opportunities for continued community engagement this year.
Participants will also take part in hands-on activities, including FishMaps, a community mapping exercise that helps document important fishing areas, access points and local knowledge shared by fishers. The meetings will also gather fisher observations on changing conditions and emerging needs to help guide future planning and decision-making.
Meeting schedule
• Saipan, CNMI
Date: April 13, 2026 (Monday)
Time: 6: p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Crowne Plaza Resort, Azucena Room, Coral Tree Ave, Garapan
• Tinian, CNMI
Date: April 14, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Tinian Western Lodge, Conference Center, Canal St.
• Hagåtña, GU
Date: April 16, 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 6 p.m. to p.m.
Location: Guam Museum, Multi-Purpose Room, 193 Chalan Santo Papa Juan Pablo Dos
For more information, contact Felix Reyes-GU ([email protected]), Angela Dela Cruz-CNMI ([email protected]) or Alex Min-GU ([email protected]) or Laurina Sebaklim-CNMI ([email protected], www.fishtoday.org/pacific-islands-voices).
About the Council
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic zone. The Council is responsible for developing and implementing fishery management plans for waters surrounding Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the CNMI and U.S. Pacific Remote Island Areas. The Council works to promote sustainable fisheries, protect marine ecosystems and support the livelihoods of fishing communities through science-based decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
