Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands, comprised of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. Pacific Islands, are surrounded by a rich diversity of marine life that is vital to our culture and economic stability. We thrive on sustainable seafood; it's key to our health and well-being. We also benefit from recreational and commercial fishing industries, which contribute nearly $1 billion in sales and 10,000 jobs to our economy. In 2015, commercial fishermen landed more than 36 million pounds of finfish and shellfish.
We are home to the lovable, yet critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal—only 1,400 remain. Other popular species include green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, false killer whales, and humpback whales. Our coral reefs support about 25 percent of marine life, but these areas are among the most threatened ecosystems because of the effects of natural events and human activities such as ocean acidification, coral bleaching and disease, marine debris, and pollution.
Our work to ensure sustainable fisheries and protect marine life is a joint effort between NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, offering cutting-edge science to help inform management decisions in an ever-changing environment. We work together to conserve and manage domestic and international marine resources in a vast geographical area.
Our vision for the region is to achieve sustainable fisheries and seafood, healthy marine ecosystems that provide stability for fishery resources, recovery of threatened and endangered species, and enhanced opportunities for commercial, recreational, and cultural activities in the marine environment.
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Management Overview
We maintain and manage healthy ocean ecosystems that promote and provide sustainable fisheries, conserve and recover protected marine resources, and enhance opportunities for commercial, recreational, and cultural activities in the Pacific Islands region.
Highlights
Pacific Islands Volunteering Opportunities

Everyone in a community shares in the responsibility of managing and protecting our resources for future generations. There are opportunities for you to help!
Marine National Monuments in the Pacific

The monuments were created to protect the abundant and diverse coral, fish and seabird populations; facilitate exploration and scientific research; and promote public education regarding the value of these national treasures.
Pacific Islands Fishing Permits

To apply for, renew, upgrade, or transfer a permit. A non-refundable application processing fee is required for some permit applications, transfers, and renewals. Application fees are subject to change.
Learn more about applying, renewing, upgrading, or transferring a fishing permit
Viewing Marine Wildlife in Hawaiʻi

Ocean recreation in Hawaiʻi can include encounters with marine wildlife. For their protection and your safety, view them responsibly. Sea turtles, monk seals, dolphins and whales are wild animals and protected under state and federal laws.
Pacific Islands Fishery Observer Program

The Fisheries Observer Program is responsible for debriefing longline observers to document interactions of all protected species, identify and quantify fish catches and bycatch (unintended catch), and collect samples for life history studies.
Pacific Islands Annual Catch Limits

Annual catch limits are tools to prevent overfishing in commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries administers limits for the following Pacific Island fisheries.
Science Overview
We provide science to support the conservation and management of fisheries and living marine resources across the Pacific Ocean. We are dedicated to the recovery and conservation of protected species and fisheries resources through biological, ecological, and social science.
Highlights
Surveying a Vast Ocean

We conduct multidisciplinary research, monitoring, and analysis of marine species and environments in coastal and offshore waters of the Pacific. Our field research and study areas cover from nearshore coral reefs to open ocean ecosystems.
Fisheries Research and Monitoring

We provide scientific research and monitoring to support fisheries management in the U.S. Pacific Islands region. Our research focuses on target fish species' life history, population assessments, and reducing bycatch of non-target species.
Science to Protect Marine Species

We provide the scientific foundation for the protection and conservation of Hawaiian monk seals, whales, dolphins, and sea turtles in the Pacific Islands. We evaluate life history and ecology, assess populations, and contribute to rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Research Surveys in the Pacific

Our scientists study and monitor fish species, protected species, and marine ecosystems around American Samoa, Hawai‘i, the Mariana Archipelago, and Pacific Remote Islands. Surveys are conducted in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies and universities.
Our Ships

NOAA Ships Oscar Elton Sette and Hi‘ialakai support research on fisheries, marine mammals, sea turtles, and marine ecosystems. Their home port is at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu.
Research Activities
Fish Life History Research in the Pacific
Our jurisdiction spans across the Pacific Ocean and includes three archipelagos (Hawaiian, Mariana, and Samoan) and several remote areas (Howland, Baker, Jarvis, and Wake Islands; Kingman Reef; and Palmyra and Johnston Atolls). These locations provide
Regional Action Plan for Climate Science in the Pacific Islands
The Need for Action The Pacific Islands are expected to see increased ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, increased ocean acidity, lower ocean productivity, and changes in ocean currents, weather patterns, and extreme weather. Many of these changes
Ecosystem Modeling in the Pacific
We depend on the ocean for food, medicine, income, recreation, and much more. In turn, we have to balance our uses of the ocean, including fisheries, to make sure that these resources are around for future generations. Ecosystem-based management
Passive Acoustics in the Pacific Islands
At the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, the Cetacean Research Program uses a variety of passive acoustic approaches to advance its assessment capabilities and to examine the relationships between cetaceans and their environment. The use of