Posted on: Monday, May 23, 2005

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

Recreational anglers in Hawai'i who target bigeye tuna could be required to report their catches to state and federal authorities, in a response to a decline in the species across the Pacific region.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council reported this month that bigeye tuna, one of the species known in Hawai'i as 'ahi, may be in trouble across the ocean because of overfishing. While it is a migratory fish, it is being targeted in fisheries throughout the ocean basin.

"Although Hawai'i-based fisheries catch less than 5 percent of total Pacific bigeye catches, it is important that all fisheries do their part to address this situation," the agency said in an issue paper on the subject.

Most of the tuna taken in Hawaiian waters are caught by longlining vessels, and the amount caught by recreational fishing boats is believed to be minor. As a result, the paper said, recreational fishers are not likely to have their fishing restricted.

However, fisheries officials say they lack solid data on the amount of bigeye tuna catching that's going on, and recreational fishing boats are not now required by the state to file reports on what they're hauling in.

There are several ways scientists could get that information. One is mandatory catch reports for all small-boat fishers who target tuna. Another would be a voluntary reporting system for recreational anglers. A third would be to continue and expand existing tallies conducted at the docks and to do phone surveys of anglers.

The federal fishery council's Scientific and Statistical Committee has strongly recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service get the information, one way or the other.

In other parts of the Pacific, agencies responsible for overseeing fisheries are recommending governments consider limiting the number of boats that can fish commercially for the species, and consider such measures as setting closed seasons on Pacific bigeye tuna or closing certain areas. There also are proposals to prevent anglers from fishing around fish-aggregating devices and other floating objects, where the tuna can congregate.

International groups already are calling on the major tuna-fishing fleets to cut back their fishing of the species to 2001 levels.

The fishery council is expected to vote on recommendations about Hawai'i recreational tuna-fishing efforts at its meeting in mid-June. For more information, visit www.wpcouncil.org.

If you have an issue, question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, send a note to Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766; or call (808) 245-3074.