"This report presents estimates of annual catches of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species (HMS), and vessel participation during 2003-2007 for U.S. fisheries operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2007 are provisional. For the purposes of this report, the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area. Information on fisheries is provided and pelagic research over the last year is described. U.S. fisheries include large-scale purse seine, longline, and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) troll fisheries operating on the high seas, within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and within the EEZs of other states, and small-scale (tropical) troll, handline, pole-and-line and miscellaneous-gear fisheries operating in nearshore waters in the EEZs of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawaii"--Page 2.

"This report presents estimates of annual catches of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species (HMS), and vessel participation during 2009-2013 for fisheries of the migratory species (HMS), and vessel participation during 2009-2013 for fisheries of the United States and its Participating Territories operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2013 are provisional. For the purposes of this report, the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area"--Pages 1-2. [doi:10.7289/V5ZS2TGP (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5ZS2TGP)]

"This report presents estimates of annual catches of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species (HMS), and vessel participation during 2007-2011 for fisheries of the United States and its Participating Territories operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2011 are provisional. For the purposes of this report, the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area"--Page 2.

"This report presents estimates of annual catches of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species (HMS), and vessel participation during 2010-2014 for fisheries of the United States and its Participating Territories operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2014 are provisional. Statistics for 2013 have been updated from those reported provisionally in the 2014 U.S. Annual Report (NMFS NOAA 2014a). Statistics for 2010–2012 have not been updated. For the purposes of this report, the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area"--Page 2 [doi:10.7289/V5/DR-15-016 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5/DR-15-016)]

"This report presents estimates of annual catches of tuna, billfish, and other pelagic species, vessel participation, and other fishery information for 2001--2005 for U.S. fisheries operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2005 are operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2005 are provisional. For the purposes of this report the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area (see WCPFC/SC1/2005/MEETING REPORT, ANNEX VIII, paragraph 8 of Recommendation SC1-ST-1). Information on the fisheries is provided, and pelagic research during 2005 is described. U.S. fisheries include large-scale purse seine, longline, and distant-water troll fisheries operating on the high seas, within the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and within the EEZs of other states, and small-scale troll, handline, pole-and-line, and miscellaneous gears operating in nearshore waters in the U.S. EEZ"--Page [1].

"This report presents estimates of annual catches2 of tuna, billfish, and other highly migratory species (Table 1a-1g), and vessel participation during 2005-2009 (Table 2a-2b) for fisheries of the U.S. and its Participating Territories operating in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). All statistics for 2009 are preliminary. For the purposes of this report, the WCPO is defined as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Statistical Area. Information on fisheries is provided and pelagic research over the last year is described. The fisheries include large-scale purse seine, longline, and albacore troll fisheries operating on the high seas. The purse seine and longline fisheries also operate within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the U.S., and within the EEZs of other nations. Small-scale tropical troll fisheries operate in nearshore waters around American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawaii (Table 1g), while small-scale handline and pole-and-line fisheries operate only in the Hawaii EEZ"--Page 2.

The fishing industry benefits the people and economies of the Pacific in various ways but the full value of these benefits is not reflected in the region's statistics. Records may be maintained but they are not complete, or accurate, or comparable. The research summarized in this report reaffirms the importance of this sector to the economies and societies of the Pacific island countries. The research reveals that the full value of fisheries is likely to have eluded statisticians, and therefore fisheries authorities, government decision makers, and donors. But its value has never escaped the fisher, fish trader, and fish processor. The difference in appreciation between public and private individuals must raise the question of whether fisheries are receiving adequate attention from the public sector---including the necessary management and protection, appropriate research, development, extension and training, and sufficient investment.