Panel Review of Pelagics Research in the Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center conducts an annual peer review process to carefully examine its science programs. In 2009, we invited a panel of independent experts to evaluate our pelagics research programs and offer advice on ways to improve the science to better support several key NOAA goals: ensuring sustainable fisheries, recovering protected species, and conserving marine habitats and ecosystems.  

The review covered a wide range of topics including research on highly migratory species such as tunas and billfishes, studies of cetaceans and sea turtles, modeling and mitigation of fisheries bycatch, fisheries oceanography, pelagic ecosystem science, and international research collaborations. The review panel learned about our pelagics research directly from the scientists and consulted with principal stakeholders to discuss needs and priorities.

Review Panel:

• Chair: Robert Olson, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
• Norm Bartoo, NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center
• Keith Criddle, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• Paul Dalzell, Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council
• Charles Karnella, NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office
• Steve Murawski, NOAA Fisheries Headquarters
• Clay Porch, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
• Steve Reilly, Adjunct Professor, Old Dominion University

Stakeholders (invited):

• Dan Polhemus, Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources
• Kitty Simonds, Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council
• David Detlor, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science and Technology
• Beth Lumsden, NOAA Fisheries Headquarters
• Bill Robinson, NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office
• Jo-Ann Leong, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology
• Naomi McIntosh, Hawai‘i Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary 
• Kevin Weng, Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, University of Hawai‘i