Wai‘anae Ecological Characterization

Fishing

People from all over the island of O‘ahu come to Wai‘anae to enjoy the excellent fishing off its coast. Participants are primarily part of the small vessel pelagic troll fishery. These are vessels between 16 and 30 feet long, fishing for species that feed in the upper layers of the water column and dragging or drifting bait or artificial lures behind the boat (Glazier 1999). The state-owned Wai‘anae boat harbor is the island's primary small vessel harbor and ramp access point, affording quick and easy access to the ocean via a sometimes very busy seven ramp launch area. The harbor also has berthing spaces for 146 vessels. It is the center of fishing activity along the Wai‘anae coast. This is the home to the Wai‘anae Boat Fishing Club and annual Ahi Fever fishing tournament (for additional information on the Ahi Fever tournament see http://www.wbfc.net). It is also the second home to various seasoned fishermen, some of whom have been around the Pōka‘ī Bay area before and since the harbor facility was constructed in 1972. The Wai‘anae Boat Fishing Club also sponsors a Wahine (women's) fishing tournament, keiki (children's) tournaments, and monthly club member tournaments.

The annual Ahi Fever Fishing Tournament has occurred every June since 1997. It is the largest fishing tournament in Hawai‘i, based on total number of anglers and boats registered. A maximum of 260 boats can participate, and the spots fill up well before the tournament begins. Approximately 1,000 anglers compete for over $50,000 in prizes. The seven launch ramps run all day long for this primarily trailer-boat tournament (otherwise known as the mosquito fleet).

Pelagic Fisheries

Commercial fisheries data from the State Division of Aquatic Resources ranks the waters off the Wai‘anae coast first or second for total pounds of all species landed. In 2001, landings off the Wai‘anae coast totaled 982,734 pounds, or just over 12 percent of the total landings in Main Hawaiian Island waters.

Skipjack tuna or aku (Katsuwonus pelamis) is the top species landed in this district, and the small fleet of aku pole and line fishery (currently three vessels) lands more than one million pounds of fish from Hawaiian waters. Yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye ahi (Thunnus obesus), akule (Selar crumenophthalmus) and blue marlin (Makaira mazara) are also caught in greater numbers than at most places in the state (State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources [DLNR] 2001). This is due mostly to the comfort of fishing in the calm lee of the island and the convenience of deep waters close to shore.

Inshore Fisheries

Although far fewer inshore reef fish are caught in Wai‘anae than in other sites around the islands, goatfish or weke (Mulloidichthys spp.) and the introduced blue-lined snapper or taape (Lutjanus kasmira) are taken in fairly large numbers (State of Hawaii DLNR 2001). Shore casting and spear fishing on the reef are common activities up and down the coast. Most of these anglers will keep their catch, either for dinner or to distribute to friends and family.

Fishing Regulations

Pōka‘ī Bay Fishery Management Area. The only Wai‘anae-specific fishing regulations occur in the Pōka‘ī Bay Fishery Management Area. Numerous regulations are intended to reduce the amount of take of fish, crabs, shrimp, and baitfish in this area. Anglers may use only one fishing line with no more than two hooks to catch fish. They may use a maximum of ten nets with a two-foot diameter to take crabs, and may use only hand nets for shrimp. They must have a bait license or be a licensed pond owner to take baitfish or young mullet (pua), respectively. All other net fishing is illegal in this area (State of Hawaii DLNR 2003b).

Ka‘ena Point to Mākua Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Area. The bottomfish restricted fishing area off the Wai‘anae coast was identified to promote recruitment and minimize overfishing of bottomfish species in the area. The shallow side of this restricted fishing area follows the 100 fathom isobath, the contour of the seafloor at 100 fathoms. It is illegal to catch bottomfish in the restricted fishing area using a trap, trawl, bottomfish longline, or net (State of Hawaii DLNR 2003b).

Artificial Reefs

Hawai‘i's artificial reef program began in the late 1950s to increase and enhance fishing opportunities for its fishermen (Kanayama and Onizuka 1973, Kanenaka 1991). The Wai‘anae artificial reef, initially named the Pōka‘ī Bay Artificial Shoal, began as a pile of abandoned cars in 1963. Concrete pipes were added the following year. For twenty years this project worked sufficiently, with biomass much higher than in the surrounding waters. In 1982, Hurricane ‘Iniki spread the individual pieces of the reef across the ocean floor, limiting its effectiveness. Additional z-shaped modules were added in 1988 and again in 1989. Fish counts have increased to pre-‘Iniki levels, and the artificial reef appears to be effective again at aggregating fish and providing food and refuge.

• 1963 — 94 car bodies placed at depths that ranged between 85 and 120 feet
• 1964 — 300 tons of damaged concrete pipes added at a depth of 70 feet
• 1965 — 1,700 tons of pipes added
• 1966 — 850 tons of pipes added
• 1968 — 1,050 tons of pipes added
• 1969 — 288 tons of pipes and weighted tires added
• 1970 — steel barge scuttled at a depth of 105 feet
• 1972 — 744 car bodies added
• 1988 — 750 concrete modules deployed at a depth of 58 feet
• 1989 — 750 concrete modules added to existing tire reef

Underwater surveys were conducted before the artificial reef was initiated in 1962 and almost annually to monitor changes in fish abundance, biomass, and species composition. These surveys indicate that the artificial reef is effective in providing habitat that can increase fish stocks (see figure). Data on the number of fish caught, biomass removed, or fishing effort that occurs on the artificial reef are not available.

Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)

Pelagic fishes aggregate around logs, nets, and other debris floating on the sea surface. Fish aggregation devices, or FADs, are large buoys anchored at depth in open ocean to simulate floating debris and attract fish, making it easier for fishermen to find and catch them.

The first FADs were experimental floating rafts installed in 1977 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries). In 1980, the State of Hawai‘i´s Division of Aquatic Resources designed, constructed, and deployed 26 FADs in waters around the main Hawaiian Islands. The FADs were located 2.4 to 25 miles offshore and in depths of 80 to 1,510 fathoms as recommended by Hawai‘i´s fishermen through statewide public meetings.

In 1996, the State FAD program came under the operation of the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean, Earth Science and Technology, of the University of Hawai‘i, in cooperation with the State of Hawai‘i´s Division of Aquatic Resources. Over the last 16 years, FAD design and deployment has been greatly improved to increase the life and effectiveness of the system. Currently, there are 55 FADs monitored and maintained statewide (Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology [HIMB] 2004) . There are four FADs off the Wai‘anae coast:

• Buoy CO: Ka‘ena Point at a depth of 1,010 fathoms
• Buoy V: Mākua, at a depth of 309 fathoms
• Buoy S: Pōka‘ī Bay at a depth of 460 fathoms
• Buoy R: Mākaha at a depth of 460 fathoms

References Cited

Glazier, E.W. 1999. Social Aspects of Hawaii's Small Vessel Troll Fishery. Phase II of Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Social Aspects of Pacific Pelagic Fisheries Program. University of Hawaii at Manoa. 280 pp.

Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). 2004. Hawaii's Fish Aggregation Device Program. http://www.hawaii.edu/HIMB/FADS/

Kanayama, R.K., and E.W. Onizuka. 1973. Artificial Reefs in Hawaii. Division of Fish and Game Report No. 73-01. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. 23 pp.

Kanenaka, B.K. 1991. "Hawaii's Artificial Reef Program: Past, Present and Future." Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Aquatic Habitat Enhancement. Long Beach, CA.

State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). 2003b. Hawaii Fishing Regulations. Division of Aquatic Resources. http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fish_regs/index.htm

State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). 2001. Commercial Marine Landings Summary Trend Report. Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/pubs/cmlstr2001.pdf

Related References

Brock, R.E., R.M. Buckley, and R.A. Grace. 1988. Artificial Reef Enhancement Program for Nearshore Hawaiian Waters. In Artifical Reefs, Marine and Freshwater Applications, 2nd ed.: Lewis Publisher Inc. p. 317-336.

State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). 1979. Executive Summary of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Fisheries Management Study. Division of Fish and Game.

Onizuka, E.W. 1984. "Hawaii's Artificial Reef Program." Proceedings of the Pacific Congress on Marine Technology, PaCON 84. Honolulu, HI.

Waianae Boat Fishing Club. 2004. Marine Boat Fishing Club Web Site. http://www.wbfc.net/

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