National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Island Regional Office

Federal Programs Office

2020 Annual Report
A Message from the Regional Administrator

We are pleased to announce that in fiscal year 2020 (FY20), the 

Federal Programs Office of the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands 

Regional Office (PIRO) funded 69 project activities totaling 

$7,757,754 in grants and cooperative agreements to constituents 

in support of the NOAA Fisheries mission. We issued the awards 

through competitive and non-competitive financial assistance 

programs. Recipients of the federal awards included 32 U.S. and 

international agencies and organizations from American Samoa, 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), 

Guam, Hawai‘i, and the greater Pacific.

PIRO manages programs that support both domestic and 

international conservation and management of living marine resources within the 

Pacific Islands region (PIR), which comprises American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, 

Hawai‘i, and other U.S. Pacific Islands. Our vision is to achieve healthy marine 

ecosystems that provide:

• Stability for fishery resources

• Recovery of threatened and endangered species

• Enhanced opportunities for commercial, recreational, and cultural activities 

in the marine environment

PIRO assists the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) in developing 

fishery management plans and amendments for offshore fisheries based in the Western 

Pacific region. In addition to PIRO and the WPFMC, the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries 

Science Center (PIFSC) and the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) collaboratively 

support the conservation and management of marine fisheries, protected species, and 

marine habitat. Working together and employing regional expertise, these offices are 

committed to providing improved customer service and stewardship of living marine 

resources within this expansive geographic region.

Going forward, our efforts will continue to focus on capacity building and proposaldevelopment training for Hawai‘i and the territories. We will also work with 

communities to develop innovative projects that help NOAA Fisheries provide 

stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and 

management in our region.

Michael D. Tosatto

Front cover: Kampachi sashimi. Kampachi fed on a new fish-free diet tasted better, according to a 

blind taste test. Credit: © Ocean Era, Inc

Back cover: University of Hawai‘i Marine Option Program (MOP) student and QUEST team leader 

(center) watches over his divers as they prepare to conduct fish surveys at Hōnaunau, Hawai‘i. 

Credit: UH MOP/Jeff Kuwabara
MOP students participating in MOP’s Maritime Archaeology Surveying Techniques field course survey one of several WWII era Amphibious 

Landing Vehicles (LVT(A)-4) lost during training exercises in waters off South Maui in 1944. Credit: UH MOP/Jeff Kuwabara 

Table of Contents

Federal Programs Office

Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program

Marine Education and Training Program

Sustainable Recreational and Non-Commercial Fishing Program

Pacific Islands Region Marine Turtle Program

Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery and Marine Mammal Program

Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986

Habitat Conservation Program

Promoting Responsible Wildlife Viewing Program

2020 Unfunded Federal Programs

2

4

9

11

15

18

23

25

26

27

28
NOAA Inouye Regional Center, Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Credit: NOAA

Federal Programs Office 

The Federal Programs Office is located at the NOAA 

Inouye Regional Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. With 

technical assistance from PIRO and PIFSC staff, Federal 

Program Officers administer grants and cooperative 

agreements throughout the award period, from the 

initial solicitation through post-award management.

They also work closely with the NOAA Grants 

Management Division, technical monitors, and grant 

recipients throughout the award period. This helps 

to facilitate the successful completion of each grant’s 

project objectives.

The Federal Programs Office supports the NOAA 

Fisheries mission through competitive and noncompetitive grants and cooperative agreements. PIRO 

funded the following grant programs during FY20:

• Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

• Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants Program

• Marine Education and Training Program

• Sustainable Recreational and Non-Commercial 

Fishing Program

• Pacific Islands Region Marine Turtle Program

• Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery and Marine Mammal 

Response Program

• Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986

• Habitat Conservation Program

• Promoting Responsible Wildlife Viewing Program

PIRO Federal 

Program Officers

Scott Bloom

Penny Larin

Mela Flores

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

2
Summary of Fiscal Year 2020 Funding

Western 

Pacific Fishery 

Management 

Council

SaltonstallKennedy Grants 

Program

Pacific Islands 

Region Marine 

Turtle Program

Marine Education 

and Training 

Program

Interjurisdictional 

Fisheries Act 

of 1986

Hawaiian Monk 

Seal Recovery and 

Marine Mammal 

Response Program

Habitat 

Conservation 

Program

Promoting 

Responsible 

Wildlife Viewing 

Program

Sustainable 

Recreational and 

Non-commercial 

Fishing Program

$4,984,889

$915,563

$619,344

$339,977

$311,659

$234,059

$193,563

$14,748

$143,952

Highlights of PIRO’s Federal 

Programs Office Activities 

in FY2020

• Expanded partnerships and collaborative efforts 

with public and private partners in the PIR to further 

NOAA’s mission through federal financial assistance

• Developed the first financial assistance opportunity 

specifically tailored to recreational and noncommercial fishermen—this opportunity ultimately 

funded 7 projects 

• Awarded $7,757,754 in grants and 

cooperative agreements

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

3
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council

The WPFMC prepares, monitors, and revises fishery 

management plans for domestic and foreign fishing 

within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone 

(EEZ) in the western and central Pacific Ocean. PIRO is 

in charge of implementing the management measures 

created by WPFMC and NOAA OLE; the U.S. Coast 

Guard 14th District and local enforcement agencies 

enforce the measures. 

In FY20, PIRO funded the first year of a 5-year 

cooperative agreement to support the WPFMC base 

administration and operations. The WPFMC received 

$4,176,014 for the following 12 activities under this 

5-year cooperative agreement: 

• Council Base Administration and Operations 

($3,145,914) 

• Annual Catch Limits Implementation ($197,528)

• Territorial Science Initiative ($189,000) 

• Council Peer Review ($142,075) 

• Gear Diversification in the American Samoa 

Longline Fishery ($100,000)

• Magnuson-Stevens Act Implementation ($89,235)

• National Environmental Policy Act ($88,998)

• High School Fisheries Workshops ($62,500) 

• Scientific and Statistical Committee ($55,764) 

• Council Education Committee Internships 

($50,000) 

• Council Education Committee Scholarships 

($50,000) 

• International Pacific Marine Educators Network 

($5,000)

Protected Species Conservation 

and Management Program

In addition to the cooperative agreement, PIRO funded 

a single financial assistance award to support WPFMC’s 

Protected Species Conservation and Management 

Program. The award, totaling $300,000, encompasses 

the following two activities: 

• Protected Species Conservation and Management 

Coordination ($200,000)

• Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Project for 

Protected Species Impacts Assessments for Hawai‘i 

and American Samoa Longline Fisheries ($100,000) 

WPFMC partnered with NOAA Fisheries to engage Hawai‘i high school students in hands-on learning opportunities, such as this marine debris 

fieldwork, during their annual fishery and resource management summer course. Credit: WPFMC

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

4
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, when reauthorized in 1996 and 

2006, included authorities in Section 204(e) to permit 

foreign fishing within the EEZ in the Pacific Islands 

Region. Before permitting foreign fishing under a 

Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement, the WPFMC 

must develop a 3-year Marine Conservation Plan 

(MCP) that describes the uses for any funds collected 

by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). The 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and 

the Territories of Guam and American Samoa must 

develop similar MCPs. 

The Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF)

serves as a repository for:

• Permit payments the Secretary receives for foreign 

fishing in the EEZ around Johnston Atoll, Kingman 

Reef, Palmyra Atoll, Jarvis, Howland, Baker and 

Wake Islands.

• Fines and penalties the Secretary receives, in the 

case of violations by foreign vessels occurring in the 

EEZ around these Pacific Islands. 

• Funds or contributions received in support of 

conservation and management objectives under 

an MCP, as well as payments made pursuant to 

specified fishing agreements with the Territories.

In FY20, PIRO awarded the Western Pacific Sustainable 

Fisheries Fund 12 in the amount of $508,875 to support 

the nine activities described below in American Samoa 

and the CNMI. 

American Samoa ($254,437.50)

South Pacific Albacore Fishery Forecasting and 

Longline Fleet Diversification Study ($80,000)

This project will study and develop an albacore tuna 

catch forecasting mechanism for two groups: American 

Samoa longline fisheries operating within its EEZ and 

U.S. vessels in the South Pacific targeting juvenile 

albacore in troll fisheries in the high seas. It will also 

investigate variables impacting trolling/jigging for 

albacore, linking any likely commonalities between 

fishery performance in the U.S. North Pacific troll/

pole-and-line fisheries to those in South Pacific high 

seas waters within range of vessels originating from 

American Samoa. 

The project will identify feasible fishing zones for 

vessels originating from American Samoa that may 

utilize troll/jig operations. It will also explore seasonal 

tradeoffs for American Samoa vessels to transition 

between longline operations and troll operations. It 

will identify seasonal or ecosystem ‘triggers’ to suggest 

conditions for if or when vessels should transition 

between sectors to optimize catch. 

Project staff will need to analyze catch and effort data 

from NOAA Fisheries observer and logbook records. 

This will allow them to determine existing and possible 

catch and effort distributions from the two groups 

specified above. The analyses may also use predictive 

geospatial oceanographic data. This data could be 

coupled with fishery data and may incorporate a time 

series of oceanographic indices, which together may 

explain fishery performance for each fishery sector. 

Staff will also need to understand albacore age/size 

selectivity from American Samoa longline fisheries 

and troll/jig fisheries that operate in the South Pacific. 

This information will help reveal how these fisheries 

may differ with respect to the opportunity of catching 

targeted albacore for maximizing economic viability. 

U.S. Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity Building Scholarship 

recipient Keena Leon Guerrero (center) proudly displays her 

acceptance letter into the program, along with WPFMC staff Floyd 

Masga (left) and CNMI Secretary of the Dept. of Lands and Natural 

Resources Tony Benavente (right). Credit: WPFMC

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

5
Ice Delivery System for Malaloa Dock ($65,275)

This project will purchase and provide self-contained 

refrigerated trailers to haul flake ice to fishing vessels 

operating out of Pago Pago Harbor and Ofu Harbor. The 

trailers will be housed at the DMWR located next to 

the facilities that will be producing flaked ice in Pago 

Pago Harbor, and at the American Samoa Government 

facility near the Ofu Harbor in Manu‘a. Large capacity 

ice storage bins will be co-located with the refrigerated 

storage bins for temporary holds to allow for increased 

production of ice to support the fishing fleet. Vendors 

will use the trailers to deliver ice directly to the vessel 

at the harbor. This service will decrease the time 

needed for fishermen to transport and load ice prior to 

departing on fishing trips. 

Depending on the vessel size and capacity, fisherman 

operating single hull- or alia-type vessels generally 

require between 200 and 500 pounds of ice for a day 

trip. Currently, vendors sell flaked ice for the fishing 

boats in 7-pound bags, making it very cumbersome and 

difficult for fishermen to purchase the needed amount 

of ice. Additionally, fishermen have to transport it from 

the vendor to their vessel. By delivering larger volumes 

of flaked ice to the harbored vessels, this project will 

support and produce higher-quality fresh fish for the 

local markets and the communities of American Samoa. 

Short-longline Pilot Fishing Project ($44,066)

The 180th Meeting of the Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council was held in American Samoa in 

October 2019. Alia boat owners from the islands of 

Ofu and Olosega in Manu‘a testified on the impacts of 

the new bottomfish stock assessment on their fishing 

activities. Fishermen requested that the Council 

provide support by helping them develop and test new 

fishing gears, such as short-longline fishing. Unlike 

the Hawai‘i shortline gear, the gear used in this pilot 

project would deploy nylon cord mainline from baskets 

to which fishermen would attach floats in intervals. 

They would clip terminal gear on at intervals resulting 

in 50–60 baited hooks deployed per mile. The total 

length of the gear would be about 2 miles. Fishermen 

would retrieve gear with a battery-powered 24-volt 

pinch puller. 

This project will provide short-longline fishing gear to 

outfit those alia boats on Ofu and Olosega and provide 

training for the fishermen who are new to longline 

fishing. The project will address the American Samoa 

MCP objective of maximizing social and economic 

benefits through sustainable fisheries. The MCP lists 

projects that enhance fishing infrastructure as a very 

high priority for the territory. The project also aligns 

with the MCP project priority of developing fishing 

Alia are small, double-hulled catamaran multi-purpose boats. They are used for commercial and subsistence fishing (pelagic trolling 

and bottomfishing) or for transportation like the vessel seen in this photo taken at Ta’u Harbor, American Samoa. © Nate Ilaoa

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

6
technologies, boat design, and construction (Objective 

1.7). To qualify for participation in this pilot project, 

fishermen will sign data agreements obligating them to 

submit catch data to the DMWR and participate in data 

collection workshops. 

Alia Vessel Upgrades ($26,850)

American Samoa’s alia fishery plays an important 

role in the Samoan community. Alia fishermen fish to 

provide food to local markets and their families and 

communities to fulfill cultural obligations. Priority 

actions to help alia fishermen include upgrading the 

current alia design and introducing technology to 

improve catch rates. This project will provide large 

insulated coolers for qualified alia boats, allowing 

them to carry more ice and fish. Fishing vessels will be 

outfitted with appropriate weatherproof electronics 

(plotters/depth finders) to improve their operating 

efficacy, safety at sea, and chances of catching fish. 

As a condition for participating in this project, the 

Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) 

will require fishermen to submit catch and effort data 

from all fishing activities using the new electronic 

reporting application, Catchit Logit.

Fisheries Training for Educators ($25,746.50)

This project addresses priorities identified in the 

American Samoa MCP. High priority projects include: 

developing and enhancing educational materials to 

increase awareness about coral reefs and fisheries, and 

enhancing regional cooperation with regional agencies 

and partners through scientific research and meetings. 

As the fishing community identified, the territory 

needs more fishery-related learning content in school 

curriculums.

The fisheries of American Samoa represent the 

backbone of the local economy. The American Samoa 

Government and others have engaged in numerous 

efforts to generate interest in the fisheries with local 

students, as well as create opportunities for those 

young people to get involved in fishery and marinerelated activities. This project will supplement ongoing 

training and education efforts, such as the annual 

Summer High School Fisheries and Marine Resource 

Management Course and U.S. Pacific Territories 

Capacity Building Scholarship Program. 

Through a series of workshops, local educators will 

provide knowledge and resources to integrate fisheries 

and marine science content into their classroom lesson 

plans. The workshops will involve a combination of 

classroom setting and hands-on activities provided 

by the DMWR and their Coral Reef Advisory Group 

partner agencies, the Council’s local advisors, and 

the local fishing community. Participating teachers 

will learn about the fisheries and how they are 

managed, and they will obtain materials needed to 

implement that information into their lesson plans. 

These workshops will be consistent with information 

and training provided by the Hawai‘i Seafood Council 

Fisheries 101 training to American Samoa in 2019, 

which was funded through the NOAA SaltonstallKennedy Grant Program. 

Manu‘a Student Fishing Tournament ($12,500)

The first student fishing tournament in American 

Samoa will be held on Ta‘ū Island in Manu‘a. Manu‘a 

students in grades K–12 will showcase their fishing 

skills in a shoreline fishing derby. They will compete 

in both modern and traditional fishing gear categories. 

The community will work with Manu‘a Elementary 

School and Manu‘a High School faculty and staff 

to host the event. This project directly addresses 

Objective 4 in American Samoa’s current MCP by 

promoting traditional fishing practices, recognizing 

the importance of island culture, and fostering 

opportunities for participation. 

The Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands ($254,437.50)

Garapan Fishing Base Improvement Project ($160,000)

This project will continue the administration’s 

initiative to improve the Garapan Fish Base area, 

which remains central to the Saipan small boat 

fishing community. This effort builds on the shoreline 

stabilization fronting the Fish Base parking area. The 

project seeks to improve the southern parking lot 

expansion, as well as create disability access for fishing 

and reviewing. Funds will support design, engineering, 

and environmental review work required to support 

the proposed construction of the access area, and it is 

a high priority in CNMI’s current MCP. Improving the 

shoreline area will allow for level extensions of the 

parking lot area for public walk-up access or disability 

access via wheelchair. The project will also install steel 

rails to provide security along the water’s edge. 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

7
To enhance the bottomfish training, CNMI leased a commercially outfitted vessel, the Kirida—a 36-foot Radon boat, configured to target 

bottomfish after extensive solicitation and expert consultations. Credit: WPFMC

SFF Project Coordinator and Monitor ($54,437.50)

The CNMI received grants to develop its fisheries. But 

due to economic constraints caused by Typhoon Yutu in 

2018, as well as impacts caused by COVID-19, the CNMI 

is forced to limit work hours and furlough needed staff. 

The CNMI recognizes the need to continue to support 

and meet current fisheries development projects to 

meet its objectives by promoting responsible domestic 

fisheries development to provide long-term economic 

growth and stability and local food production. To 

meet its fishery development projects, the CNMI will 

use the funds to better manage and monitor ongoing 

MCP projects, as proposed in this funding request 

and support the agency’s ability to meet deadlines 

concerning deliverables. The CNMI will continue 

to provide oversight, educational outreach, and 

administrative support.

Improving Fishery and Resource Monitoring ($40,000)

Currently, the only fisheries-dependent data collection 

in the CNMI is through opportunistic creel surveys and 

dealer reporting. The CNMI has enacted regulations 

making commercial fisheries data reporting mandatory 

and is working to implement the regulations. The CNMI 

is also working to adopt an electronic data collection 

program using the “Catchit Logit” application. The data 

collection program will help improve the monitoring of 

local fishery, habitat, ecosystem, and protected species 

by providing the community a platform through which 

it can share information. 

The CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources 

will solicit and engage additional resources to support 

interagency coordination to improve resource 

monitoring and the implementation of the electronic 

data collection system. Technical staff will assist in the 

registration and issuance of the app and the tablets 

(for people without smartphones). Staff will travel to 

Rota and Tinian to work with fishermen on app usage, 

provide outreach, monitor performance, and support 

data collection efforts. 

The WPFMC collaborated with the CNMI Governor’s Office to offer 

a four-day vessel maintenance and capacity-building training on 

Saipan in 2019. Here, Hawai‘i commercial bottomfish fisherman 

and Council Hawai’i Advisory Panel member Ed Ebisui III displays 

a fishing reel as he presents on types of fishing gear and their use. 

Credit: WPFMC

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

8
Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program

The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program is a 

nationally competitive program administered by NOAA 

Fisheries. The program provides financial assistance 

through grants and cooperative agreements for 

research and development projects that benefit the U.S. 

fishing industry. The program’s statutory authority 

is the S-K Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 713c-3). The S-K 

Act established a fund for the Secretary of Commerce 

to provide funding support for projects addressing 

aspects of U.S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, 

harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated 

infrastructures. In 2020, PIRO allocated $915,563 for 

four projects.

Conservation International Foundation — 

Advancing the Promotion, Development, and 

Marketing for Hawai‘i’s Local, Sustainable 

Fisheries ($299,633)

This project creates a scalable market-based model 

that promotes better business practices and marketing 

strategies to increase production and market demand 

for local and sustainable fish species in Hawai‘i. 

Increasing demand for local, sustainable seafood and 

connecting chefs and restaurants with fishermen 

creates opportunities for innovation, increased 

production, and increased commercial benefit to the 

fishing community presently not existing in Hawai‘i. 

Additionally, the heavily promoted Hawai‘i Seafood 

Month campaign and increased local, regional, and 

global public relations will create enabling conditions 

for business opportunities to emerge as a result of this 

market-based model. The project will also create an 

innovative “Pacific Chef Network” as a long-term, selfsustaining mechanism to prioritize business practices 

for improvement. 

University of Guam — Determining Patterns and 

Drivers of Life-History Variation to Inform Present 

and Future Fishery Management in the U.S. 

Pacific ($279,786)

Through an integrated series of studies and outreach 

opportunities rooted in fundamental life-history 

research, this project will create the largest database of 

tropical fish life history to date spanning the southern 

Mariana Islands. Through collaboration, student 

mentorship, and formal training workshops, it will 

build upon three existing data sets at different spatial 

and temporal scales spanning U.S.-affiliated and other 

islands of the tropical Pacific. Using this information, 

it will project and forecast fishery yield across space 

Hawai‘i Feed & Fertilizer turning fish waste into aquaculture feed. Credit: Hawai‘i Feed & Fertilizer

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

9
and time under projected future climate variability. 

Robust measures determine life-history traits for 

commercially important species and generalize 

relationships between environmental factors and 

fish biological traits to better inform management in 

this region, which is a leading producer of coral reefassociated fisheries research.

Hawaii Feed & Fertilizer, LLC — Building 

Resiliency in Hawaiian Fishing Communities: A Pilot 

Project Assessing the Feasibility of Developing a 

Local Fishmeal Plant ($220,000)

Hawaii Feed & Fertilizer, LLC, creates and tests 

fishmeal made from Hawai‘i fish processing waste to 

establish and produce a locally sourced aquafeed. Using 

new technology developed in Iceland by Hedinn, Inc, 

Hawai‘i will be able to divert fish byproducts, currently 

disposed of in landfills, into a marketable product. This 

will strengthen the existing markets while creating 

new ones, all while promoting environmentally 

sound business practices within the Hawai‘i fishing 

communities. Confirming the feasibility of developing 

a local Hawai‘i plant will remove the chief barrier to 

aquaculture’s growth and sustainability throughout 

Hawai‘i and create a scalable use for our state’s fish 

byproducts. The fishmeal creates locally sourced 

aquafeeds for fish farmers and other value-added 

products from the unused byproducts. 

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group — Community 

Ideas and Projects for ‘Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna) Landed 

on Kaua‘i ($116,144)

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Group’s project identifies 

and evaluates a range of possible approaches to 

diversify the market share and business opportunities 

for the Kaua‘i small boat fleet for ‘ahi (and other 

species). Experts and the Kaua‘i Department of 

Economic Development will review research and 

diversity approaches used at other locations to add 

value to fresh-caught tuna. 

Workshops will help small boat fleets identify their 

views of past and present performance of the island 

fishery, their preferences, and their interest in 

diversification or new distribution channels. These 

workshops will also host fishing experts who have 

completed successful diversification and expanded 

markets for tuna and seafood products elsewhere. 

A comprehensive summary provides a roadmap to 

identify the next steps to implement diversification and 

increased market shares.

Project Update

Ocean Era (formerly Kampachi Farms) recently released 

results from their 2018 S-K–funded project, in which they 

have successfully raised a carnivorous fish on a diet free 

of fishmeal and fish oil without any harmful effects. The 

kampachi (Hawaiian yellowtail, almaco jack) were raised 

on a diet of feed-grade poultry meal and a fish-free oil 

blend high in omega-3 fatty acids. The fish were not only 

as healthy as those grown on traditional feed but also more 

flavorful in blind taste tests. The achievement may ultimately 

help aquaculture expand by decreasing its reliance on 

fish-derived feed. 

For more information about this project, read Ocean 

Era’s technical report at the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s 

Advocate: http://bit.ly/sk-oceanera-fishfreefeed. The new 

feed formulations are publicly available online through the 

F3 Feed Innovation Network at http://bit.ly/f3fin. 

A new fish-free feed that replaces fishmeal and fish oil 

with poultry meal and algae oil. Credit: © Ocean Era, Inc.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

10
Marine Education and Training Program

In 2007, the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act 

was amended to include §305 (j), which provides 

guidance on the development of a marine education 

and training program. Public Law 109-479 states: 

“the Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Western 

Pacific Fishery Management Council, establish 

programs that will improve communication, education, 

and training on marine resource issues throughout 

the region and increase scientific education for 

marine-related professions among coastal community 

residents, including indigenous Pacific Islanders, Native 

Hawaiians, and other underrepresented groups in the 

region.” The Pacific Islands Region Marine Education 

and Training Program was established to meet 

Congressional intent. In 2020, PIRO allocated $339,977 

in 10 projects. 

University of Hawai‘i — Marine Support of Marine 

Option Program (2020-2025) ($149,977)

To provide experiential opportunities for students with 

ocean-related interests, the Marine Option Program 

(MOP) offers marine education programs and activities 

for undergraduates across more than 40 disciplines. 

MOP continues to provide career counseling, help 

students identify and implement hands-on internships 

and research projects to meet their MOP certificate 

requirements, liaise with project mentors, and monitor 

student progress. MOP also provides scientific diving 

opportunities, which help to teach aspects of hands-on 

underwater-surveying practices and principles 

courses. In FY20, PIRO, PIFSC, and the Office for Coastal 

Management shared funding support for the program.

Hawai‘i Academy of Science — Hawai‘i State 

Science and Engineering Fair ($60,000)

Every student in the State of Hawai‘i has the 

opportunity to participate in a science fair activity, 

helping to build interest in marine and natural 

sciences. The science fair provides a platform for 

students to use the scientific method to investigate 

questions and solve problems in the real world. High 

school students interact with leading scientists in 

Hawai‘i to conduct in-depth and comprehensive science 

investigations. Exposure to science activities could 

provide a catalyst to increase the number of students 

in Hawai‘i pursuing advanced degrees in areas of study 

related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, 

and Math). The Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering 

Fair connects students, scientists, and teachers 

by leveraging partners and donors and offering 

scholarships and awards to winners. The Hawai‘i State 

Science and Engineering Fair has temporarily moved to 

a virtual format, requiring an innovative approach to 

this effort.

University of Guam — Enhancing Marine Science 

Capacity in the Western Pacific Through Science 

Internships at the University of Guam ($25,000)

The University of Guam will select students with 

qualified projects from the Guam Island-Wide Science 

Fair for a science internship at the university. Project 

MOP students use underwater cameras and size class measuring 

devices (marked PVC) for coral disease surveys. Credit: UH MOP 

Program/Jeff Kuwabara

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

11
selection is based upon the student’s abstract, 

oral presentation, and overall display. The student 

internship extends for 5 weeks from mid-June to 

July under the supervision of a qualified scientist 

engaged in marine research. The internship schedule 

begins with an orientation week followed by project 

initiation and data collection. The final week focuses 

on analyzing data from the 5 weeks and presenting 

summer research projects to the community in a mini 

science symposium.

Hawai‘i Pacific University, College of Natural 

and Computational Sciences — Aquaculture 

Workshop at Oceanic Institute of Hawai‘i Pacific 

University for Students of Wai‘anae High School’s 

Aquaculture Program ($15,000)

This aquaculture workshop is a well-developed 

curriculum and set of activities to impart up-to-date 

information on the latest aquaculture techniques and 

tools, as well as introduce emerging technologies and 

college career opportunities at local higher education 

schools and programs. The participants, students, and 

teachers from Wai‘anae High School’s Marine Science 

Learning Center, at its Waimānalo Makapu‘u Campus 

and Oceanic Institute of Hawai‘i Pacific University, 

receive new skills and knowledge developed through 

the research conducted at the institute. The project 

will help prepare these local students to pursue science 

education, consider jobs in the aquaculture and marine 

science industry, and contribute to the research needed 

to advance these industries in the United States. 

Mālama Learning Center — Reviving Hawai‘i’s 

Estuaries and Aquatic Resources: Marine 

Conservation Career Exploration for West O‘ahu 

Students ($15,000)

Under the Hawai‘i Green Collar Institute, the Mālama 

Learning Center will facilitate a program to get 20 

core high school students from West O‘ahu involved 

in marine conservation. These multi-day sessions 

will bring together marine professionals who focus 

on marine and estuary (muliwai) conservation and 

protection of ocean resources, and highlight careers 

and career options in marine conservation and 

resource management. Activities increase knowledge 

and life skills (collaboration, communication, academic, 

and career readiness) related to contemporary 

estuarine and ocean-related resource management 

issues. Students gain increased awareness of the value 

of maintaining healthy muliwai ecosystems through 

individual and collective participation. Resparking 

kuleana (responsibility) for muliwai resources in 

Hawai‘i engages both the students and the community 

in sustainability efforts and solutions. Mentorships 

guide students who pursue research, management, 

outreach projects, and future conservation careers 

related to the muliwai of Hawai‘i. 

Students meet with a marine biologist from the University of Hawai‘i to study plankton in the ocean and the wetland at Nānākuli. They are 

comparing and contrasting what they can see and learning about the important role of plankton in marine ecosystems. Credit: Mālama 

Learning Center

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

12
Students at Koai‘e Cove in North Kohala engage with traditional Hawaiian cultural leaders on how to conduct hanai i‘a activities (using 

coconut only) to reestablish ko‘a (fish houses) of known species that were historically fed. Credit: North Kohala Community Resource Center/

Amoo Kainoa

North Kohala Community Resource 

Center — Kohala Unupa‘a: Watchers and 

Caretakers ($15,000)

Youth and families of North Kohala and Kailapa engage 

with kupuna (elders), cultural practitioners, university 

students, marine professionals, and community 

members in science-based and culturally relevant 

marine resource management practices. The training 

fosters and stewards a productive and healthy fishery 

for future generations by sharing local and traditional 

knowledge and by increasing student observation, 

monitoring, and data collection of coastal Kohala 

shoreline. Education increases best practices for 

fishery productivity and sustainability and introduces 

students to marine resource and conservation 

professions by developing and expanding established 

connections with experts in the field. This project 

promotes community education and outreach through 

culturally relevant sustainable fishing and safe boating 

practices for Kohala coastal community residents.

Symbrosia, Inc. — Macroalgae Mariculture 

Apprenticeship for West Hawai‘i Students ($15,000)

A collaboration between Symbrosia and West Hawai‘i 

Explorations Academy trains Hawai‘i students in 

the basic aspects of mariculture to prepare them for 

entering the workplace or continued education. The 

curriculum encompasses STEM, workplace, industrywide, and innovation competencies. Students engage 

with staff to run wet lab experiments in addition to 

outdoor maintenance of scaled seaweed culture. This 

project provides equitable opportunities for hands-on 

experience with sustainable seaweed aquaculture at 

the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority 

under the guidance and supervision of qualified 

Symbrosia staff. By exposing students to mariculture, 

this project hopes to inspire them to explore future 

careers in this field and instill an entrepreneurial 

mindset. It provides mentorship and tools to help 

students graduate this program and go on to tackle 

global problems themselves. 

University of Hawai‘i — Broadening Exposure 

to Local and Traditional Knowledge in Fisheries 

Management Through Innovative Television 

Programming, Online Media, and Curriculum 

Connections ($15,000)

Researchers with the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant 

College Program partner to develop a 30-minute “Voice 

of the Sea” television episode, 30-second trailer, and 

companion educational material. These products 

will focus on science-based management of fishery 

resources in the Pacific Islands region with increased 

awareness and understanding of local and traditional 

knowledge. The content enhances the use of local 

and traditional knowledge to restore, protect, and 

maintain subsistence and commercial fisheries by 

exploring topics relevant to the region, including native 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

13
fishpond restoration, community-based subsistence 

fishing areas, and training of local observers to 

record phenological changes. This will help affect 

community-wide changes in the conceptualization 

and management of ocean resources. This project 

will reach traditional and nontraditional audiences of 

population segments. 

University of Hawai‘i — Building Pacific Islander 

Capacity in Shoreline Mapping to Visualize Impacts 

of Rapid Subsidence and Sea-Level Rise ($15,000)

This UH Sea Grant College program recruits Pacific 

Islanders to pursue fisheries and marine science 

careers through community-driven scientific 

training in a spatial mapping workshop developed 

for undergraduates and local government staff. The 

geographic information system (GIS)-based shoreline 

mapping workshop trains participants in creating 

maps of shorelines in several targeted villages in 

American Samoa. The project will pair spatial data 

with resident interviews, particularly elders, to 

create a longer baseline dataset to better understand 

how the relative sea-level rise rate has changed 

nearshore habitats and fisheries over time. Students 

gain hands-on experience, new technical skills, and 

knowledge of historical shifts in marine resources that 

will increase their job competitiveness and strengthen 

their desire to pursue a career in marine science.

University of Hawai‘i — Continuing to Build Pacific 

Islander Capacity Through Training in Underwater 

Surveying Techniques ($15,000)

Under this project, the University of Hawai‘i builds 

local marine science capacity within American Samoa 

by recruiting Pacific Islanders to pursue fisheries 

and marine science careers. This project conducts 

community-driven scientific training through placebased participation in an underwater surveying 

training course developed for undergraduates. Training 

is a modified (snorkeling) version of the Quantitative 

Underwater Ecological Survey Techniques (QUEST) 

course conducted by the University of Hawai‘i MOP. 

Students gain hands-on experience, new technical 

skills, and knowledge of marine resources that increase 

job competitiveness and strengthen their desire to 

pursue a career in marine science or related fields. This 

project will recommend QUEST participants for future 

internship and research opportunities and encourage 

them to pursue higher degrees in marine science or 

seek gainful employment with local agencies. 

Symbrosia macroalegae apprentice learns to use a dissolved oxygen probe. Credit: Kurt Chambers

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

14
Sustainable Recreational and 

Non-Commercial Fishing Program

This grant program supports both recreational and 

non-commercial fishing projects in the PIR that 

improve sustainable fishing opportunities, maintain 

stability of fish stocks, and protect cultural fishing 

traditions. As recreational and non-commercial 

fisheries in the region are major economic contributors 

to coastal communities, this industry holds both 

essential social and cultural significance in the 

region through the perpetuation of subsistence 

and traditional fishing practices. Projects funded 

in this first year share a common theme of using 

local knowledge and citizen science to inform best 

management practices. In 2020, PIRO funded seven 

recreational and non-commercial fishing program 

projects in the amount of $143,952. 

Poseidon Fisheries Research LLC — 

Seasonal Spawning in Caranx ignobilis and 

Caranx melampygus for the Islands of O‘ahu 

and Maui ($30,000)

As cooperative research, this study focuses on 

combining traditional fishermen knowledge with 

modern reproduction assessments to support 

collaborative fishery management of the highly 

targeted and prized ulua (C. ignobilis) and ‘ōmilu (C. 

melampygus) species. This project will recruit local 

fishermen and train them as citizen scientists to 

aid in the collection of data for studies that aim to 

support the conservation and management of these 

species. These recreational fishermen will conduct 

macroscopic identification of sex and spawning in 

these two species and provide gonad samples, which 

scientists use to confirm spawning seasonality 

through histological analysis. Data from O‘ahu and 

Maui will reveal spawning peaks throughout the year, 

including possible differences in spawning seasons 

between islands. 

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group — Support 

Community Use of the Electronic Reporting 

Application to Improve Fishery Data in the Pacific 

Islands Territories ($29,810)

This Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) project 

creates a discussion forum for the non-commercial and 

commercial fishing community to support the Catchit 

Logit data collection app. This forum encourages app 

use among the fishing community through increased 

awareness about the importance of accurate fishery 

data. It provides fishery scientists and managers 

improved information to support fishery science, 

informed fishery management policies, and it may 

be possible to include that data within the next 

generation bottomfish stock assessment. PIFG works 

with local representatives to provide on-the-ground 

support in each island area and coordinate outreach 

and community engagement. The project will develop 

programs to encourage fishermen to use the Catchit 

Logit app throughout the year, along with additional 

materials through print and radio to support the 

Catchit Logit app use. 

Cassie Pardee, Poseidon Fisheries Research LLC, finds large female 

gonads while dissecting this ulua. Credit: WPFMC/Zachary Yamada

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

15
The International Game Fish Association, in collaboration with Stanford University, deploy pop-up satellite archival tags on marlin (blue, 

black, striped) and spearfish to increase our understanding of distribution, population structure, and biology, as well as engage anglers and 

the general public in the research process. Credit: Hardus Rothmann

Eileen Nalley — Understanding the 

Impacts of Ciguatera on Hawai‘i’s Fishing 

Communities ($29,700)

To address the prevalence, consequences, and risk 

mitigation decisions associated with ciguatera fish 

poisoning (CFP), this project documents the impacts 

of CFP on non-commercial and recreational fishermen 

on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island. Interviews 

(target = 5–10 on each island) and surveys (target = 

100 respondents) contribute to the understanding of 

the disease. CFP is an illness caused by consuming 

fish that have accumulated toxins from microalgae 

in the environment; however, its prevalence is 

underestimated due to a lack of reporting and 

misdiagnoses. The illness can cause long-term impacts 

to the financial, emotional, social, and cultural wellbeing of fishermen and their families. Data gathered 

from the project may further determine how ciguatera 

test kit access might change these factors. 

International Game Fish Association — 

International Great Marlin Race ($27,742)

International Great Marlin Race (IGMR), in partnership 

with Stanford University, engages recreational anglers 

in a citizen science-driven billfish satellite tagging 

program. The project achieves this goal by engaging 

anglers in the Hawai‘i recreational fishing community 

who are participating in billfish tournaments to 

sponsor and deploy Pop-Up Satellite Archival Tags 

(PSATs) on billfish species during major fishing 

tournament activities. Data from the tags reveals the 

biology, behavior, and habitat use of billfish species, 

which increases our understanding of their population 

dynamic characteristics. Dr. Barbara Block will 

analyze and manage the data from the tagged billfish. 

This knowledge leads to improved information for 

resource managers and policymakers to ensure the 

long-term sustainability of the recreationally valuable 

billfish stocks. 

Government of Guam Department of Agriculture 

— Disposal of Monofilament Lines and Other 

Marine Debris at Gregorio D. Perez Marina, Agat 

Marina, and Merizo Pier and Boat Launching Facility 

in Guam ($13,000)

The Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic 

and Wildlife Resources promotes responsible disposal 

of monofilament lines and other marine debris at 

three popular fishing boating access sites on Guam. 

This project will install monofilament line collectors, 

mixed-waste bins, and recycling bins at the Gregorio D. 

Perez Marina, the Agat Marina, and the Merizo Pier and 

Boat Launching Facility. The line collectors and bins 

will mitigate the harmful interactions between marine 

life and marine debris within Guam’s waters by the 

collection of discarded fishing line and other debris. 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

16
Littering and illegal dumping of trash is a primary 

source of marine debris on Guam and is noticeable at 

fishing access sites on Guam lacking trash receptacles. 

American Samoa Department of Marine 

And Wildlife Resources — Pilot Mixed-Waste 

Collection at Fishing Access Sites in American 

Samoa ($7,700)

The American Samoa Department of Marine and 

Wildlife Resources encourages responsible disposal 

of monofilament through the availability of mixedwaste bins and community participation in fishing 

access sites in Tutuila Island, American Samoa. The 

project will fund mixed-waste bins for construction, 

installation, and initial maintenance on the Fagatogo 

floating dock and in the villages of Matuu-Faganeanea, 

Famalo, and Poloa. It will identify best practices to 

prevent the loss of gear and engage in outreach to 

increase participation in the removal of marine debris. 

Trash collection and the availability of bins are needed 

in the Territory to prevent waste in the coastal waters. 

American Samoa does not have an established fish 

access site mixed-waste and recycling bin program so 

this proposed project would address this need.

Mariana Islands Nature Alliance — Installation 

and Maintenance of Monofilament Line Collectors 

for Recreational Fishing ($6,000)

This monofilament line collectors project promotes 

best practices for marine debris and responsible 

fishing by recreational and non-commercial fishermen 

on the island of Saipan, CNMI. The successful 

installation and use of the receptacles aid in the 

prevention of the fishing lines entering the ocean in 

high-usage areas at Smiling Cove Marine, Garapan 

Fishing Base, and Sugar Dock. After fabricating and 

installing the collectors, complete with signage and 

decals, the project will launch a public information 

campaign to inform the public of the receptacles and 

how they benefit the protection of marine resources 

for future generations. Volunteers from non-profit 

organizations and clubs maintain the collectors and 

properly dispose of contents while maintaining data to 

determine the collectors’ efficacy. 

Please recycle your

used monofilament

fishing line here!

Monofilament

Recycling Bin

Help keep our waterways

TANGLE-FREE

NO CANS - NO BOTTLES - NO TRASH

For more information visit minapacific.org or

give MINA a call at 233-7333 (REEF)

Proposed design for the installation of monofilament line collectors at Smiling Cove and Garapan Fishing Base, Saipan, CNMI. 

Credit: Hearst Connecticut Media/Genevieve Reilly

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

17
Pacific Islands Region Marine Turtle 

Management and Conservation Program

The PIR Marine Turtle Management and Conservation 

Program (MTMCP) implements the recovery plans for 

the U.S. Pacific sea turtle pop ulations by supporting 

programmatic activities for Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) listed sea turtle species. These species may occur 

entirely within the PIR or have documented linkages 

to the PIR, such as sea turtles that originate from 

areas outside of U.S. jurisdiction but migrate through 

or forage within the PIR, or are impacted by PIR 

federally-managed activities and therefore relevant to 

NOAA Fisheries management and recovery obligations. 

Projects supported by the MTMCP aim to implement 

regional management priorities and species-specific 

monitoring, protection, or conservation needs as 

outlined in the recovery plans. They also complement 

ongoing federal, state, or international activities and 

align with current agency initiatives (such as the 

Species in the Spotlight Pacific leatherback sea turtle 

initiative). In 2020, PIRO issued 10 federal assistance 

awards totaling $619,344 to help progress and 

compliment multi-agency domestic and international 

sea turtle recovery efforts. 

The Nature Conservancy — Effective 

Co-Management of Leatherback Turtle Nesting 

Beaches in Solomon Islands ($89,847)

Under this project, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) 

supports community efforts to protect and monitor 

leatherback turtle nesting beaches in the Solomon 

Islands and the Isabel Provincial Government (IPG). 

Activities raise local awareness of the plight of the 

leatherback turtles. The project will encourage 

and strengthen communities in Haevo, Sosoilo, and 

Sasakolo in conservation competency to effectively 

protect and monitor leatherback nesting beaches 

during peak nesting seasons. It will also increase 

capacity to further develop turtle conservation in the 

IPG by establishing and monitoring a position for a 

turtle conservation officer. The TNC project increases 

understanding of leatherback turtle conservation by 

supporting a local women’s group, KAWAKI. To conduct 

community outreach, KAWAKI is producing a short 

film on leatherback conservation at Sasakolo. 

Leatherback sea turtle hatchling on beach. Credit: NOAA

Did You Know?

Of all the species NOAA protects under the ESA, the 

Pacific leatherback sea turtle is considered among 

the most at risk of extinction in the near future. NOAA 

Fisheries launched dedicated efforts to manage 

the turtles and prevent commercial longline fishery 

interactions (a key threat) in U.S. federally managed 

fisheries, but the population continues to face 

numerous threats in international habitats, including 

from fishery bycatch, poaching of eggs and turtles, and 

climate change (sea-level rise and increasing beach 

temperatures). To stabilize and protect this species, 

PIRO, along with federal and international partners, 

is helping to build in-country capacity for monitoring 

and conservation in habitats of the western Pacific 

component of the population. PIRO also supported 

three leatherback projects in Indonesia and Solomon 

Islands in 2020. You can help the leatherback sea 

turtle through responsible consumer choices, such as 

buying seafood from sustainably managed fisheries 

that are regulated to reduce sea turtle interactions

Learn more: 

Fishwatch.gov

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

18
World Wildlife Fund, Inc — Implementing 

a Strategy to Address the Direct Take of 

Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) in 

the Kei Islands, Indonesia ($84,449)

The Western Pacific leatherback turtle subpopulation 

has decreased by more than 80% and is projected to 

decline by 96% by 2040. In the Kei Islands of Maluku 

Province, Indonesia, where nine villages hunt and 

consume turtles, these turtles congregate to forage 

on large aggregations of jellyfish. World Wildlife 

Fund, Inc (WWF) has worked to develop a multi-layer 

strategy to reduce the ongoing leatherback hunt. It 

has formed a robust regional monitoring program and 

engaged in broad outreach efforts that have reduced 

leatherback take from a high of 103 turtles in 2017 to 5 

in 2019. Through close collaborations with government 

agencies and civilian sectors, early conservation gains 

are promising and the continued support for these 

activities will be instrumental in achieving a more 

permanent solution.

The Honu Project — Strengthening Monitoring 

Efforts for Hawksbill Sea Turtles on Hawai‘i Island 

With the Hawai‘i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery 

Project ($83,935)

To protect and monitor hawksbill turtles residing 

in the Hawaiian archipelago, the Hawai‘i Island 

Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project aims to monitor 

nesting activities on beaches, protect nests, and 

ensure hatchlings safely reach the ocean. It promotes 

public stewardship for coastal and marine ecosystems 

through educational outreach. It implements relevant 

and innovative management techniques to assist in 

the recovery of these turtles. It also collects critical 

information on the nesting hawksbill population 

throughout the season to further control any 

non-native species found on nesting beaches. The 

project will analyze, share, and discuss its data 

with the Hawai‘i Hawksbill Turtle Network and 

use it to influence management decisions and the 

implementation of recovery strategies. 

Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI) sea turtle response staff release a juvenile green sea turtle back into the ocean after 

disentangling it from fishing line. The number MA14 is a temporary number harmlessly etched onto the shell to help researchers track its 

recovery progress. The public is encouraged to report any sightings of MA14 to RespectWildlife@noaa.gov. MOCMI works in partnership with 

NOAA Fisheries to respond to dead, sick, or injured sea turtles on Maui (response activities authorized pursuant to 50 CFR 222.206).

Credit: Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

19
Underwater view of a purse seine drifting fish aggregating 

device. Credit: ISSF/David Itano

Did You Know?

Intergovernmental organizations such as the Western and 

Central Pacific Fisheries Commission work to manage 

fisheries interactions with endangered species, such as 

sea turtles, through the adoption of conservation and 

management measures (CMMs). These CMMs aim to 

minimize the adverse impacts of fisheries on sea turtles 

and other non-target species through requirements such as 

gear modifications, bait restrictions, and non-entangling fish 

aggregating device (FAD) designs.

World Wildlife Fund, Inc — An Analysis of the 

Status of Sea Turtles in the Philippines ($74,754)

By increasing and improving the data available to 

governments, conservationists, and fisheries, this 

project seeks to reduce the removal of marine turtles 

in the Philippines. Through research and knowledge 

sharing, the project will address the two main means 

of turtle removal: fishery bycatch and illegal wildlife 

trade. Staff will conduct a series of rapid bycatch 

assessments to measure the level of interaction and 

bycatch of marine turtles in both small-scale fisheries 

and small commercial fisheries. Using these results, the 

project identifies and implements bycatch mitigation 

strategies with the buy-in of stakeholders and local 

communities, all the while continuing to support 

Filipino authorities tasked with combating illegal 

wildlife trafficking.

World Wildlife Fund, Inc — Leatherback 

Sea Turtle Nesting Dynamics in the Maluku 

Region ($67,266)

WWF closely monitors the critical habitat for the 

surviving population of leatherback sea turtle nesting 

sites on Buru Island. The Indonesian archipelago is a 

critical habitat for the surviving population, but their 

numbers have dramatically declined in part due to egg 

harvesting and direct take from nesting beaches and 

foraging grounds. The protection of adult females and 

nests made Buru Island the first substantial nesting 

population discovered outside of Papua in the last 

decade. For continued conservation, WWF works to 

expand nest characterization, monitoring, and satellite 

tag deployment for further research. Striving to 

improve and extend the community and government 

outreach, WWF will ultimately transition conservation 

responsibility over to capable and enthusiastic local, 

provincial, and regional governments.

International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

— Definition of Guidelines to Reduce the Impact of 

Lost and Abandoned Fish Aggregating Devices on 

Marine Turtles ($61,446)

This project will define guidelines and conservation 

recommendations to reduce the impact of lost and 

abandoned drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) 

on sea turtles in the Pacific Ocean. The dFADs are used 

to increase tropical tuna species catches; however, 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

20
around 20% of these FADs are lost or abandoned every 

year. Entanglement in dFAD netting is known to cause 

incidental mortalities for marine megafauna. New 

guidelines may reduce the occurrence of mortalities 

associated with entanglement in dFADs and protect 

turtle habitats caused by dFADs stranding events. 

Information for these guidelines comes from the 

cooperation of key stakeholders across the Pacific 

Ocean (fishermen, ship-owners, and scientists) to 

minimize the dFAD impacts on sea turtles. 

The University of the South Pacific — A 

Multidisciplinary Approach to Monitor Green Turtles 

From the Central South Pacific Distinct Population 

Segment Aggregating at Three Foraging Grounds 

in Fiji, Central South Pacific ($55,043)

The University of the South Pacific project uses satellite 

tracking to improve understanding of green turtle 

habitat use at Yadua Island and Makogai Island foraging 

grounds in Fiji. The project collects data on habitat 

use and impacts from cyclones and El Niño Southern 

Oscillation in the Central South Pacific distinct 

population segment. Surveys conducted on the three 

foraging grounds monitor aggregating turtles and 

assess their regional connectivity. During site visits, 

project staff capture and flipper-tag turtles, as well as 

check their health status and measurements. They also 

record habitat plant and macroalgae composition to 

assess ecology health. Enhanced knowledge improves 

protection and conservation measures for decision 

making by Pacific countries on sea turtle management.

Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance DBA HI Marine 

Animal Response — Sea Turtle Stranding and 

Rescue Response (O‘ahu) ($44,604)

Through the Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance DBA 

Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR), this project 

provides a high-quality staff, volunteer, and internbased stranding and rescue response program on 

O‘ahu for dead, injured, or otherwise compromised 

marine turtles. The program continues to grow 

and maintain a comprehensive network of staff, 

volunteers, and interns to improve turtle and human 

interactions through educational outreach. HMAR 

receives, processes, and manages reports from the 

public and others concerning marine turtle strandings 

(actual or potential); provides fully-trained and vetted 

personnel to respond to these reports; and conducts 

these activities in close collaboration with the NOAA 

PIFSC Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program 

and the NOAA PIRO Marine Turtle Management and 

Conservation Program. 

MOCMI staff free a juvenile green sea turtle from an illegal gillnet. Credit: MOCMI

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

21
Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute — 

Sea Turtle Stranding Response and Outreach 

Program, Phase Two ($35,000)

The Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI) 

project is focused around a volunteer-based stranding 

response program on the Island of Maui for dead, 

injured, or otherwise compromised sea turtles. 

MOCMI will maintain and implement a comprehensive 

volunteer network that will improve turtle and human 

interactions through educational outreach. MOCMI 

will receive, process, and manage reports from the 

public and others concerning sea turtle strandings on 

Maui, and provide fully-trained and vetted volunteers 

to respond to strandings in close coordination with 

NOAA. Using the stranding response data, MOCMI aims 

to improve understanding in the community through 

education and outreach efforts. MOCMI promotes 

conservation initiatives and accessible environmental 

education with fishermen through social media and on 

its website. Programs to reduce the threats impacting 

sea turtles include expanding a fishing line recycling 

program. This project allows MOCMI to increase 

outreach efforts and expand sea turtle stranding 

response, rescue, and rehabilitation capabilities.

Mālama na Honu — Mālama na Honu Sea Turtle 

Management and Outreach Project ($18,000)

The Mālama na Honu project focuses on reducing 

and managing human harassment and disturbance 

of green sea turtles at Laniakea Beach, O‘ahu. The 

structured and maintained program provides a 

viable orientation, on-site training, and monitoring 

instruction for volunteers. This cadre of trained 

volunteers then conducts daily outreach and education 

with an ever-increasing number of visitors at the 

location. Volunteers teach about the species life cycle, 

foraging habits, migration, and nesting behavior to 

schools, clubs, service groups, and tourist venues. The 

project strives to bring awareness and implementation 

of strategies to mitigate turtle strikes. It collects and 

analyzes data on basking turtles at Laniakea and 

makes it available on Mālama na Honu’s website. 

Project Update

Supported by a Pacific Islands Region Marine Turtle 

Management and Conservation Program grant, the Hawai‘i 

Island Hawksbill Project (HIHP) studies, monitors, and protects 

the island’s hawksbill sea turtles (honu‘ea). With fewer than 

200 nesting female hawksbills documented in the Hawaiian 

Islands in the last 30 years—the vast majority of which nest on 

Hawai‘i Island—honu‘ea make up one of the most endangered 

sea turtle populations in the world. HIHP conducts a wide 

range of proactive conservation measures to help these 

struggling reptiles, including maintaining a daily presence 

across approximately a dozen nesting beaches throughout the 

April–December season, tagging nesting females and counting 

successful hatchings, protecting nests from invasive predators, 

restoring habitat, and engaging in numerous public outreach 

and education activities. The project also plays an important 

role in honu‘ea research by collecting biological samples for 

study by NOAA Fisheries scientists. This collaborative work 

has revealed, for example, that honu‘ea are genetically distinct 

from other hawksbill populations in the Pacific—they truly are 

Hawaiian hawksbill sea turtles. 

Read more about HIHP and the turtles they protect in this 

PIRO StoryMap: http://go.usa.gov/xvKFz

Up-close view of a hawksbill laying eggs on a Hawai‘i Island 

beach. USFWS Permit #TE-739923-8. Credit: Cheryl King

In accordance with permits, Lauren Kurpita (left) from the Hawai‘i 

Island Hawksbill Project, along with scientists from NOAA Fisheries 

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, excavated a hawksbill nest to 

release trapped hatchlings and collect biological samples. USFWS 

Permit #TE-739923-8. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

22
Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery 

and Marine Mammal Response Program

The Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery and Marine 

Mammal Response Program supports specific 

programmatic activities related to promoting the 

recovery of endangered Hawaiian monk seals and 

supporting responses to marine mammal strandings 

in the main Hawaiian Islands and U.S. Territories. This 

program supports community-based and communityintegrated projects with an educational component 

designed to elevate public awareness and build 

capacity from the community for Hawaiian monk seal 

recovery and marine mammal response. In 2020, PIRO 

allocated $234,059 in five projects.

Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance, Inc. DBA 

HI Marine Animal Response — Hawaiian 

Monk Seal Conservation & Recovery - Priority 

1 - O‘ahu ($114,983)

NOAA and HMAR have a common goal — the 

preservation, recovery, and stewardship of the 

Hawaiian monk seal. HMAR has developed significant 

capacity, infrastructure, and experience in three key 

areas: outreach and education; dispatch and reporting; 

and field response, escalations, and interventions. 

HMAR uses these capabilities to conduct activities, 

measured using Key Operational Indicators, that have 

a direct and positive impact on Hawaiian monk seal 

preservation and recovery. The thousands of outreach, 

education, hotline, dispatch, field response, escalation, 

and intervention support activities each year have 

positively impacted monk seal health, management, 

recovery, and public support. HMAR works with 

NOAA and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural 

Resources (DLNR).

The Marine Mammal Center — Hawaiian 

Monk Seal Response and Community 

Engagement ($80,000)

This grant supports The Marine Mammal Center‘s 

(TMMC) hospital facility, Ke Kai Ola, in Kona on 

Hawai‘i Island for Hawaiian monk seal recovery 

through a science-based rehabilitation program and 

well-managed response network with coordinated 

community partnerships. The project conducts 

community outreach and monitoring efforts to inspire 

visitors and residents to protect and monitor this 

species. The center strengthens and standardizes a 

volunteer team with specialized response-dispatch 

training. This training also helps expand data 

collection that helps TMMC identify shifts in monk 

seal behavior. TMMC provides key partners’ staff and 

volunteers with training and materials for haul-out 

events. The center places an increased focus on areas 

with low levels of engagement and sightings, updating 

signage to encourage sighting reports and appropriate 

behavior around monk seals. 

Hawaiian monk seal PO2 (Nohea), born in a popular beach area on 

O‘ahu, plays with marine debris (in this case, a sand castle toy for 

children, which may have been left on the beach) during the Memorial 

Day holiday. Marine debris is a threat to monk seal survival. The 

seal’s natural curiosity and popularity of the beach presented wildlife 

management challenges for HMAR. Credit: HMAR

Pōhaku (RO28) nurses her 2-week-old pup Nanea (PO5) 

Credit: © Melody Bentz Photography

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

23
Mālama Pūpūkea Waimea — Monk Seal Outreach 

and Education at Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation 

District, O‘ahu ($13,723)

Each year, over one million people visit the monk seals 

in their critical habitat, which includes the Pūpūkea 

Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD). Mālama 

Pūpūkea-Waimea conducts activities at this habitat 

and areas nearby to increase effective outreach and 

education in support of the Main Hawaiian Islands 

Monk Seal Management Plan. Some of these activities 

are Ka Papa Kai, a “seaside class” for elementary 

school students; Pono Fishing, a program that 

teaches sustainable traditional Hawaiian fishing 

practices to middle and high school youth; Makai 

Watch, the training and deployment of volunteers in 

activities that benefit monk seals; regular outreach to 

inform residents and visitors alike about monk seal 

conservation; and maintenance of native plants at the 

Pūpūkea MLCD to reduce erosion and negative impacts 

on monk seal habitat.

Dana Jones DBA Hawaiian Monk Seal 

Preservation ‘Ohana — Hawaiian Monk 

Seal Recovery Through Education and 

Preservation ($13,215)

Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation ‘Ohana (HMSPO) 

expands the current programs that support the goals, 

objectives, and activities that address management 

strategies outlined in the Main Hawaiian Islands Monk 

Seal Management Plan for the Island of O‘ahu. Through 

education and outreach, community engagement, 

and capacity building, HMSPO’s Recovery Through 

Education and Preservation project activities 

support health, partnership, community engagement, 

and education strategies to upgrade and expand 

in-classroom education programs, increase volunteer 

workforce, expand outreach to communities and at 

pupping events, develop partnerships for conservation, 

educate through information sharing, and integrate 

historical and cultural awareness. 

Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance, Inc. — Hawaiian 

Monk Seal Recovery and Conservation - Priority 

1 - Moloka‘i ($12,138)

A key Hawaiian monk seal species recovery challenge 

in the main Hawaiian Islands is fatal human-caused 

trauma. In recent years, Moloka‘i has, unfortunately, 

maintained a high ratio of human-caused seal deaths 

to the island’s small human population. This project 

adds staff from the Moloka‘i community and increases 

activity and support for monk seal stewardship as one 

part of broader, community-based, sustainable coastal 

ecosystem management practices that benefit the 

residents of Moloka‘i while also honoring their cultural 

identity and traditions. HMAR works cooperatively 

with Hawai‘i DLNR, TMMC, and other partners to 

achieve the goals of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery 

Plan (2007) and the Main Hawaiian Islands Monk Seal 

Management Plan (2015).

Junior Girl Scout Troop #769 show off their newly created 

outreach materials as they educate Hawai‘i residents at an 

outreach event. Credit: HMSPO/Dana Jones

Project Update

Continuing over a decade of classroom education and 

public awareness for the Hawaiian monk seal species. 

Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation ‘Ohana has been 

educating and inspiring O‘ahu students and teachers 

(30,000 and counting!) about the Hawaiian monk seal 

for the last 14 years. Recently, the group was able to 

partner with Junior Girl Scout Troop #769, where 11 youth 

participated in various outreach events to obtain their Girl 

Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior 

can achieve. HMSPO helped the group research and 

learn about how to safely fish around monk seals and the 

dangers of the cat-borne disease toxoplasmosis; design the 

sign (below); and teach others about these two key monk 

seal issues. Community outreach is an important part of 

HMSPO’s program, working towards the recovery of this 

species through education and awareness. HMSPO will 

continue to share the cultural significance this Hawaiian 

treasure gives to the world and the people of Hawai‘i. 

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

24
Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986

The Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 assists 

states in managing interjurisdictional fisheries 

resources. Apportionment to states is based on the 

average value and volume of raw fish that domestic 

commercial fishermen land. The data obtained is 

the principal source of information and analysis 

for the fisheries activities and management options 

that are used to address federal requirements for 

fisheries management plans under the jurisdiction of 

NOAA Fisheries. In 2020, PIRO allocated $311,659 to 

four projects.

American Samoa Government: Department 

of Marine and Wildlife Resources — American 

Samoa Interjurisdictional Fisheries Stock 

Assessment and Monitoring Program ($170,333)

The DMWR of the American Samoa Government 

assesses and monitors the status of interjurisdictional 

fish species caught within the American Samoa EEZ. 

The data obtained is the main source of information 

used to address local and federal requirements for a 

Fishery Ecosystem Report under the jurisdiction of the 

American Samoa DMWRs and NOAA Fisheries through 

the WPFMC. Through the cooperative efforts between 

federal and local agencies, fisheries information 

provides a timely developed, implemented, and 

evaluated Fisheries Ecosystem Report for the territory 

of American Samoa and the WPFMC. 

State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural 

Resources: Division of Aquatic Resources 

(DAR) — Fisheries Act Award Application-State of 

Hawai‘i ($107,232)

DLNR-DAR is modernizing the State of Hawai‘i’s 

commercial marine licensing and fisheries reporting 

systems (CMLS). The agency has nearly 3,800 

fishermen required to obtain commercial marine 

licenses to offer marine life for commercial purposes in 

the State and 3,000 commercial fishermen submitting 

monthly fishing reports. Per State of Hawai‘i Revised 

Statute (§189-10), DLNR-DAR also collects transaction 

purchase reports from 255 active primary commercial 

marine dealers. Both federal and state fisheries 

agencies use this integrated best available data to 

assess the status of marine resources and to establish 

fishery regulations in State and U.S. EEZ waters. It is 

essential, therefore, that timely and accurate fisheries 

data are available for fisheries agencies to make 

informed management decisions. This award will 

support the continued maintenance and support of 

anfisheries online reporting system for fisheries data. 

Funds will also support the modified online CMLS 

which will allow the State to issue and renew licenses 

to both commercial fishers and marine dealers.

Government of Guam, Department of 

Administration — Data Collection and Entry in 

the Management of Guam’s Interjurisdictional 

Fishery Resources ($17,047)

Guam presently serves as a major trans-shipment and 

port-of-call for large-scale fishing fleets operating 

in the Western Pacific. Two primary types of fishing 

vessels — purse seiners and longliners — make up 

Guam’s large-scale fisheries. Continued support allows 

Guam to coordinate data collection and entry activities 

under the Pacific Fisheries Data Program regarding 

transshipped species offloaded by foreign longliners at 

Guam’s commercial port. Data collected helps address 

the information requirements needed by both state 

and federal governments. With the data, managers 

can then develop and implement conductive policies 

for the maintenance and expansion of Guam’s fishing 

industry. They can then devise sound management 

and conservation plans for Guam’s interjurisdictional 

fishery within its territorial waters and EEZ. 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands: Division of Fish and Wildlife — Data 

Collection and Entry in the Management of CNMI’s 

Interjurisdictional Fishery Resources ($17,047)

During fishing tournaments, the CNMI Division of 

Fish and Wildlife collects, processes, and shares 

important fisheries monitoring data. This principle 

source of information provides the CNMI with an 

analysis of fisheries activities and management 

options of pelagic landings during tournaments. Data 

further equips federal and local fisheries management 

programs in the CNMI and assists in addressing federal 

requirements for Fisheries Management Plans under 

the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries through WPFMC. 

A record of fisheries data guides in the development, 

implementation, evaluation, and amendment of fishery 

management plans in the Western Pacific region.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

25
Habitat Conservation Program

Throughout the Pacific Islands Region, habitat 

protection efforts include programs to conserve, 

protect, and restore marine habitat and coastal 

ecosystems. Increasing partnerships with other federal 

and local authorities allows NOAA to maintain and 

restore healthy coastal ecosystems and implement 

strategies that minimize threats. The most biologically 

diverse yet threatened marine ecosystems are coral 

reefs. In 1996, the amended Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act (MSA; 16 U.S.C. 

1855(b)) established a new requirement to identify 

and describe Essential Fish Habitat to identify and 

protect against local stressors (overfishing, pollution, 

and habitat destruction) and global stressors (climate 

change, coral bleaching, and ocean acidification). 

The goals of Essential Fish Habitat help to maintain 

productive fishery species life cycles from spawn to 

maturity and rebuild depleted fish stocks in the United 

States. In 2020, PIRO allocated $193,563 in two projects. 

University of Hawai‘i Systems — Developing 

Multiple Stressor Thresholds for Reef-Building Coral 

Species in the Pacific Islands Region in Support of 

Essential Fish Habitat Management ($165,963)

This project will identify potential environmental and 

anthropogenic factors that may influence the longterm resilience of coral reef ecosystems and assess 

both its resistance and resilience to episodic events in 

specific populations, locations, and habitats. Through 

systematic gray literature and meta-analysis, the 

project will develop a framework to manage thresholds 

for sedimentation and other co-stressors on nearshore 

coral reef and associated ecosystems. Understanding 

and quantifying the impacts of anthropogenic stressors 

of reef-building corals, including synergistic effects 

and critical threshold values in the Pacific ecosystems, 

will enhance the management of coral reefs and the 

fisheries habitat that they provide.

The State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land 

and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic 

Resources — Life History Information for Key 

Hawai‘i Coral Reef Fish Species ($27,600)

This division has identified life history data gaps of 

Hawaiian coral reef fish species needing more effective 

management. This project collects specimens across 

a range of sizes and throughout the annual cycle; 

prepares samples; measures, visually assesses, and 

preserves gonads; extracts and preserves otoliths; 

and conducts data analysis and reporting. Lack of 

life history information presents an obstacle in the 

development of effective regulations for some of 

these species. DAR has identified nenue (rudderfish, 

Kyphosus spp.), munu (doublebar goatfish, Parupeneus 

bifasciatus), and moano kea (blue goatfish, P. 

cyclostomus) as priority species with life history data 

gaps. It will focus sampling efforts on O‘ahu, but may 

preserve specimens from other islands for future 

research projects.

Coral garden at the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National 

Monument. Credit: The Nature Conservancy/Kydd Pollock

Did You Know?

Coral reef habitats are extraordinarily diverse and widely 

distributed in nearshore and midwater habitats across 

the Pacific U.S. jurisdictions. Over the past few decades, 

there have been increases in the frequency, severity, 

and magnitude of anthropogenic disturbances to corals. 

This phenomenon has resulted in less time available for 

corals to recover and reduced coral cover. Corals are 

inherently resilient and overall resilience remains high; 

however, anthropogenic disturbance, recovery time, coral 

cover, and overall resilience are all projected to worsen in 

the 21st century. Despite broad global threats to corals, 

there is evidence that alleviating local stressors (e.g., 

sedimentation from dredging) can improve the resiliency 

for many coral species.

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

26
Promoting Responsible Wildlife Viewing Program

Hawai‘i is home to many indigenous marine plants and 

animals, attracting people from all over the world who 

seek out experiences in the marine environment. The 

wildlife tourism industry in Hawai‘i has significantly 

increased over the last decade, placing more viewing 

pressure on charismatic protected marine species, 

including dolphins, whales, monk seals, and sea turtles. 

Both visitors and residents in Hawai‘i encounter 

these animals daily, and these interactions can often 

disrupt the animals’ important natural behaviors, 

such as resting, feeding, sheltering, and caring for 

young. Although these experiences can benefit 

protected wildlife by promoting species awareness and 

conservation, wildlife viewing should be performed 

in a way that is safe for people, minimizes harmful 

disturbance to wildlife, and is in compliance with 

the law. NOAA Fisheries has created Responsible 

Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines — https://go.usa.

gov/xwPMn — for Hawai‘i to help commercial 

and recreational viewers behave safely when they 

encounter these animals in the wild. NOAA Fisheries 

also manages the Dolphin SMART program, which 

promotes responsible stewardship of wild dolphins 

and other protected marine wildlife by offering 

training to and guidelines for commercial wildlife 

viewing tour operators. In 2020, PIRO issued one 

federal assistance award to support the Dolphin 

SMART program, totaling $14,748.

Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawai‘i / 

Hawaii Ecotourism Association — Sustainable 

Tourism Association of Hawai‘i and Dolphin SMART: 

Certifying Responsible Wildlife Viewing ($14,748)

This learning module systems project will improve 

a tour operator certification program that assists in 

educating Hawai‘i visitors and residents on responsible 

wildlife viewing, with an emphasis on dolphin 

conservation and stewardship. Wildlife viewing is 

an ongoing management challenge with a negative 

impact on the survival of protected species. With a 

collaborative and education-based approach, this 

project promotes sustainable tour and travel practices 

through certified credits required for national tour 

guide interpretation accreditation. It encourages 

statewide sustainable tourism educational campaigns 

with an updated website and active social media 

accounts. Tour operators can access and use a growing 

library of education and outreach material about 

responsible wildlife viewing. This project cultivates 

partnership relationships to improve the wellbeing of 

the residents, environment, and culture of Hawai‘i.

Two wildlife viewers and a naturalist on a boat taking photos of two humpback whales from a responsible distance away. Credit: Tor Johnson

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

27
Did You Know?

Have you ever witnessed a marine wildlife emergency at the 

beach or on the water and did not know who to call? NOAA 

Fisheries manages a statewide hotline — at (888) 256-9840 

— for ocean users to report sick, injured, or dead marine 

wildlife, including dolphins, whales, Hawaiian monk seals, sea 

turtles, and seabirds. You can also use the hotline to report 

Hawaiian monk seal sightings, large whale entanglements, 

false killer whale sightings and fishery interactions, and 

potential harassment or other illegal activity involving 

protected marine species.

2020 Unfunded Federal Programs

The following programs were not funded in FY20 due to 

budgetary constraints:

Western Pacific Demonstration Projects: Public Law 

104-297 (16 U.S.C. 1855) authorizes grants for Western 

Pacific Demonstration Projects that foster and promote the 

involvement of communities in the Western Pacific.

Native Fishery Observer Program: The NOAA Fisheries 

Observer Program is responsible for providing longline 

observers, who obtain data on incidental sea turtle takings and 

collect fishing effort data. The observers document interactions 

of all protected species, tally fish that are kept and discarded, 

and process selected specimens for life history. The Native 

Fishery Observer Program targets Native Hawaiian, American 

Samoan, and other Pacific Islander residents for employment as 

fishery observers in the Hawai‘i and American Samoa fisheries.

Hawai‘i Seafood Program: The Hawai‘i Seafood Program 

is an effort to help strengthen the economic viability of the 

fishing and seafood industry of Hawai‘i through activities that 

promote Hawai‘i fisheries as high-quality and safe domestic 

seafood produced by a responsible and well-managed fishery.

Pōhue, a remote and picturesque beach on the south shore of Hawai‘i 

Island, is one of the most active hawksbill sea turtle nesting beaches 

on the island. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Joseph Bennington-Castro 

Pacific Islands Regional Office | FEDERAL PROGRAMS OFFICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

28

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce 

for Oceans and Atmosphere

Dr. Neil Jacobs

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Chris Oliver

October 2020

www.fisheries.noaa.gov

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

National Marine

Fisheries Service

NOAA Inouye Regional Center

1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176 

Honolulu, HI 96818