Hawaii's Longline fishery

1
Hawaii's Longline fishery

• Scott Barrows

2
Presentation agenda

• This presentation discusses the history of the
  Hawaii longline fishery.
• We will also discuss the production and marketing
  of tuna, swordfish and other incidental catch in
  the Hawaii based longline fishery.
• Finally we discuss HLA and the measures its taken
  to mitigate interactions with endangered species.

3

• Japanese immigrants brought the longline fishery
  to Hawaii around 1917.
• All vessels were sail powered, and all line was
  brought in by hand.
• All fishing was done within sight of land.

4

• By the 1940s most fishing was done by engine
  powered, wooden sampans with hydraulic capstans
  for hauling line.
• By the 1950s there were approximately 70 vessels.

5
(No Transcript)
6

• Over time there was a reduction of active
  vessels.
• About 35 vessels were active in the early 1980s.

7

• In the late 1980s the number of vessels
  increased from thirty-seven to over one hundred
  forty.
• They came from the U.S. East, West and Coast
  States
• The Western Pacific fisheriesRegional Management
  Council implemented a limited entry program which
  stopped the influx of vessels.
• The new vessels were using monofilament line on
  hydraulically driven spools instead of the
  traditional tarred nylon also called basket gear.

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
Side Setting

• HLA is working with industry to convert stern
  setting vessels to side setting

11
Marketing

• The majority of the fleets catch is sold at the
  Honolulu auction (United Fishing Agency)
• Approximately 60 is consumed in Hawaii
• 20 is shipped to Japan
• 20 is shipped to the U.S. mainland

12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Hawaii Longline Production.

• Quarterly catch of bigeye tuna by longline
  vessels based on landings in Hawaii , 2001 2007
• Quarterly CPUE of bigeye tuna on trips by vessels
  based and landing fish in Hawaii

15
2006 Production

• Landed 23 million pounds
• Estimated 60 million dollars ex-vessel revenue

16
2007 - 1st Quarter overview

• 121 active vessels
• 373 trips
• 4,333 sets made
• 8,082,695 hooks set

17
Hawaii Longline AssociationDevelopments and
Outlook for the Hawaii-based Longline Fisheries

• In 1991 after the influx of over one hundred
  vessel into the Hawaii longline fishery and
  substantial interaction with inshore fishermen,
  an area closure of fifty to seventy five miles
  around the Hawaiian islands was implemented by
  the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
  based on recommendations submitted by the Western
  Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council
  (WPRFMC)
• With the knowledge that there were many more
  challenges to come in the fishery, the Hawaii
  Longline Association was started in 1998.
• During the past fifteen years, the Hawaii-based
  longline fishery has operated in a highly dynamic
  regulatory environment. During this time,
  significant changes have occurred in the
  regulation of these fisheries, and significant
  legal challenges have been addressed by HLA.

18
Developments Obtained Through HLAs Efforts

• Based on the use of new mitigation measures the
  Closure of shallow-set (swordfish) fishery was
  reopened after being closed for four years
• WPRFMC along with HLA implemented conservation
  measures for sea turtle conservation by
  protecting beach nesting areas. Substantial
  long-term benefits are anticipated for
  leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles
• HLA and the NMFS on recommendations from the
  WPRFMC developed and implemented seabird
  mitigation measures incidental take of seabirds
  has been reduced by 90 percent or more
• HLA-supported analyses to promote use of
  science-based regulatory decisions

19
Other HLA Successes

• HLAs right to participate in ESA consultations
  was confirmed in a lawsuit brought by HLA
• Time and areas closures imposed on the deep-set
  (tuna) fishery were reversed through litigation
• HLA successfully defended fisheries and NMFS from
  multiple advocacy group lawsuits intended to
  close the fisheries based upon the Endangered
  Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy
  Act (NEPA), Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), Migratory
  Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Marine Mammal
  Protection Act (MMPA).
• HLA has supported changes in gear and fishing
  methods resulting in substantial reductions in
  the incidental take of sea turtles

20
Looking to the future

• HLA is continuing to study ways to improve the
  existing fishery management regime to promote
  responsible and self-sustaining Hawaii-based
  longline fisheries, to reduce incidental take of
  protected species, and to promote conservation
  and recovery of protected species. Future
  initiatives include review of ways to responsibly
  increase the shallow-set longline fishery, and
  working with government agencies and non -
  government agencies to continue efforts to
  streamline the regulatory processes and to ensure
  science-based decisions.

21
Ongoing Activities of HLA HLA is working closely
with WPRFMC and NMFS regarding international
regulation of Bigeye tuna and yellow fin tuna
catch in the Pacific. HLA continues to support
sea turtle, seabird and marine mammal research
and conservation measures to conserve and help
with the recovery of protected species
22
HLAs Perspective of on the status of the Hawaii
Longline Fishery

• The Hawaii longline fishery is dealing with
  many
• negative factors. The increase of
  operational cost Fuel, gear, bait, ice, and
  other cost have risen dramatically in the past
  few years. The implementation of quotas, time
  area closures and other restrictions is of great
  concern to our members. HLA believes that with
  the cooperation of all parties fishermen,
  fisheries managers, scientists and
  conservationist, the solutions to the problems
  with endangered species interactions and
  overfishing can be achieved while at the same
  time keeping the industry strong.