The pacific islands region comprises american samoa, guam, hawaii, the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands, and other U.S. Pacific islands

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $2,492,916 to Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission on October 1, 2025, under the Fisheries Data Program (CFDA 11.437) to advance fisheries data collection, storage, analysis, and dissemination in the Pacific Islands region.

The award funds support to Pacific Islands regional stakeholders—American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. Pacific Islands—for fisheries information collection, storage, analysis, and improved dissemination of fisheries data as described in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The project will develop modernized approaches to integrate Pacific fishery information networks to leverage shared storage resources, data, and technical expertise, enabling regional managers and the fishing community to access high-quality information for sustainable fishing management with maximum economic yield.

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a state government interstate compact agency representing California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. The commission operates as a specialized regional intermediary for Pacific fisheries data management, serving as a prime grant recipient and data steward for NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. Work is performed in Portland, Oregon. The Fisheries Data Program supports state fishery agencies in enhancing data collection and analysis systems to respond to coast-wide and insular area fisheries management needs, with priority consideration given to projects providing Fishery Management Councils with timely information needed for management decisions under fishery management plans.

The area is surrounded by a rich diversity of marine life that is vital to community food security and economic stability. Recreational and commercial fishing industries in the region contribute nearly $1 billion in sales and 10,000 jobs to the local economies. The objective of this proposal is to advance fisheries data collection, storage, and analysis, and dissemination efforts to improve the regional fisheries information management systems so that regional managers and the fishing community have access to the best information possible to ensure continued sustainable fishing with maximum economic yield. This project will provide support to pacific islands regional stakeholders with fisheries information collection, storage, analysis, and improved dissemination of fisheries data as described in the magnuson-stevens fishery conservation and management act. Additionally, this project will develop modernized approaches to integration of a suite of pacific fishery information networks to leverage the power of sharing storage resources, data, and technical expertise.