Discussing Statewide Small-Boat Fishbox Data
Do you catch tuna, mahimahi, ono or uku? The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (the Council) recently held statewide Small-Boat Public Scoping Sessions. By analyzing the Council’s and DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources’ (DAR) comprehensive catch data, fishermen can get an in-depth look at the pelagic fishery statewide.
What are the big take-aways? Both state and federal agencies, while needing to be applauded for the effort, realize the data is incomplete and suspect. Hawai‘i longliners set 58 million hooks a year and are classified as Hawai‘i small boats.
If you care about the future of sustainable fishing in Hawai‘i, please read the rest of this article and write to me so that we can let others know what’s wrong with the data and how to fix it.
The Council’s Hilo scoping meeting was well attended by 20 fishermen. Ed Watamura, an O‘ahu fisherman and WESPAC vice chairperson for Hawai‘i, explained that the purpose of the talk-story session was “to
