Bottomfish

Go to Bottomfish Management Update.

Deepwater Ta'ape Report (1.5 Mb, PDF)

The deep-sea red snappers, the onaga, or ula`ula koa`e (Etelis coruscans) at left, and the ehu, or ula`ula (Etelis carbunculus) below right, are the focus of DLNR efforts to implement a comprehensive management program. These fish are found throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago generally at depths between 100 to 150 fathoms (600 - 900 feet, 183 - 274 m). They can occasionally be caught deeper. They are considered to be part of the Hawaiian bottomfish fishery, which catches deep-slope dwelling snappers, groupers, and jacks with vertical handline gear, sometimes operated with electric or hydraulic reels. The opakapaka, the pink snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus) shown below, well-known in fine restaurants, is also caught in this fishery. Note: these species can be found throughout the central and southwest Pacific Ocean. They are not unique to Hawai`i.

There were about 509,000 pounds of all species of bottomfish landed commercially in 2000¹ from the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI - the major inhabited islands from Hawai`i at the southeast end of the Hawaiian Archipelago up through Kaua`i and Ni`ihau). About 270,000 pounds came in from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI - the islands, atolls, and reefs of the Hawaiian Archipelago northwest of Kaua`i and Ni`ihau). Of those landed in the MHI, about 86,000 pounds were onaga and 34,000 pounds were ehu in 2000, which is around 20% higher than the amount landed in 1998. An estimated 495 vessels made about 3,810 trips in the MHI for bottomfish based on preliminary data. In comparison, about 92,000 pounds of onaga and 13,000 pounds of ehu were harvested by 11 vessels making 83 trips in the NWHI.

The bottomfish fishery in the entire Hawaiian Islands brought in about $2.55 million ex-vessel, i.e., off the boat, in 2000. However, if you count the added income as the fish are sold to retailers, restaurants, hotels, and consumers, plus the revenues from supporting the fishing fleet, fuel, ice, and supplies, the value of the fishery is many times the ex-vessel value. The aggregate ex-vessel price of all species of MHI bottomfish combined was $3.68 per pound. The all-species aggregate price for NWHI bottomfish was generally lower ($3.60). The 2000 onaga average ex-vessel price was $5.05 per pound and ehu was $3.90 per pound (both MHI and NWHI).

¹Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. 2002. Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region: 2000 Annual Report and 2001 draft annual report (R. Moffitt and S. Pooley, NMFS, pers. comm. 2002), Honolulu, HI.

What is the Problem?

The onaga and ehu have always been highly valued fish in Hawai`i. Their bright red color means good luck in Asian culture and the fish is often served on ceremonial occasions where its symbolic meaning is important. The red snappers are also fine eating fish, even raw as sashimi, and are popular both in restaurants and for home consumption. They have unique Hawaiian names, reflecting that they were caught and valued by early Hawaiians as well. They have been sought after by fishermen for hundreds of years.

The Division of Aquatic Resources has been keeping statistics on commercial landings of fish since 1948. There were estimates of landings before 1948, but only since then was a system developed for fishermen to report their catches to the Hawai`i territorial, then state government. The reports indicate clearly that the catch rates of onaga and ehu have declined steadily since the early 1950s, and have dropped even more steeply in the last 10 to 15 years. As the catch rates have dropped, so have the proportion of mature fish in the landings. About 84% of the commercial landings of onaga from the main Hawaiian Islands in 2000 were immature, that is, had not yet spawned. This is a very high percentage of immature fish and may indicate that the large mature fish are being depleted from the population around the MHI.

Onaga mature (50% of the females spawn for the first time) at a length of about 26" (66 cm) and age of maturity about 4.1 years. Ehu mature at a length of about 11" (27.5 cm) at about 2.75 years (pers. comm., R. Moffitt, NMFS). Both fish take a long time to mature and in the case of onaga, have to attain a large size before they spawn for the first time.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has a laboratory in Honolulu, Hawai`i. Some scientists at this laboratory have been studying the bottomfish fishery for many years. NMFS scientists have been reporting that onaga and ehu in the Main Hawaiian Islands have been overfished since at least 1989. They base their assessment on several indicators, including proportion of immature fish in the landings, declining catch rates, and the dynamic Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR). The SPR uses catch rates and size-frequencies to calculate a number that compares the estimated spawning biomass of the current year's fish population to an estimate of the virgin spawning biomass.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) manages domestic fisheries in the U. S. Exclusive Economic Zones of Hawai`i, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U. S. Pacific islands by mandate of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. They established that an SPR of 20% represents a "red light" threshold for overfishing in the Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fisheries. According to NMFS, onaga in the Main Hawaiian Islands were at about 5% and MHI ehu about 10% in 1998 (using targeted catch rates). MHI onaga have been below 20% since 1989 and ehu since at least 1986. In contrast, the SPR numbers for onaga and ehu in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are well above 20%. In addition, MHI onaga have a very high proportion of immature fish in the landings, and recent MHI ehu catch rates are less than 10% of the level in 1948.

What Did the DLNR Do?

The WPRFMC had been urging the State of Hawai`i to take action to manage and conserve onaga and ehu in the Main Hawaiian Islands since the early 1990's. In 1995, chairperson Michael Wilson committed DLNR to develop a comprehensive management plan for MHI onaga and ehu. Wilson established an ad hoc advisory panel of recreational and commercial fishermen from all over the state, representatives from the fishing industry, and fishery managers, scientists, and enforcement personnel from other government agencies. Under the leadership of the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), the advisory panel met throughout 1995 and developed a set of management proposals. These proposals were presented to select groups of fishermen statewide in information roundtable discussions to get feedback and suggestions for the proposals. Then DAR turned the proposals into a draft administrative rule which was presented at further statewide public informational meetings with fishermen.

Finally, the draft administrative rule was formally presented and reviewed at formal public hearings statewide. In all, more than 42 meetings (including advisory panel meetings and informal meetings) were held with fishermen all over the state. Fishermen were actively sought out for suggestions and comments. Many responded with ideas and recommendations. The rule doesn't contain all of the suggestions and ideas presented to the department, but some can be implemented after the rule is established.

The administrative rule was revised and presented to the Board of Land and Natural Resources on March 13, 1998 for approval. They approved it unaminously. The rule was revised slightly and resubmitted to the Board on April 24, 1998 and approved. The Attorney General approved the revised rule and Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano signed it on May 22, 1998. The rule went into effect June 1, 1998.

A Hawai'i Bottomfish Fishing Rules brochure summarizing the new rule and a map showing the restricted bottomfish fishing areas and DLNR Bottomfish Vessel Registration forms are available from DAR offices statewide, as well as from Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DBOR) offices, and some fishing and boating stores. Copies of the administrative rule are available from DAR offices.

A Summary of the Administrative Rule

The new regulations are contained in Hawai`i Administrative Rule Chapter 13-94. The following is a brief informal summary of the rule (see disclaimer at end of this section). Details are in the rule, copies of which, including detailed maps of the bottomfish restricted fishing areas, can be obtained from the Division of Aquatic Resources at 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813, or at Division of Aquatic Resources offices on Kaua`i, Moloka`i, Maui, and island of Hawai`i. For Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the new bottomfish rule, click here.

The rule establishes new regulations on fishing for certain deep water snappers and groupers commonly called bottomfish in Hawai`i. The purpose of the Chapter is to establish management of these species and regulate the fisheries that impact them in the main Hawaiian Islands, extending from the island of Hawai`i to Ni`ihau.

The best available scientific information indicates that onaga or 'ula'ula koa'e (Etelis coruscans) and ehu or 'ula'ula (Etelis carbunculus) are severely recruitment overfished in the main Hawaiian Islands. This is based on the analysis by the Honolulu Laboratory of the National Marine Fisheries Service presented to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Data came from both the State of Hawai`i and the Federal government.

13-94-2 Definitions

Important definitions of terms and concepts used and applied in this Administrative Rule only.

13-94-5 Bottomfish Species

Defines "bottomfish" as seven deep-water species for the purposes of this Chapter. Includes onaga, ehu, kalekale (Pristipomoides sieboldii), opakapaka, ukikiki or gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus), hapu`u (Epinephelus quernus), and lehi (Aphareus rutilans).

13-94-6 Restricted bottomfish fishing gears

Prohibits use or possession of nets, traps, trawls, or bottomfish longline in fishing for bottomfish species defined in 13-94-5. Possession of both prohibited gear and bottomfish would be a violation. This is intended to prevent ghost fishing, habitat destruction, or use of too-efficient gears. Intended to allow use of traditional handline gear only.

13-94-7 Non-commercial Bag Limits

Limits non-commercial fishermen (without a valid Commercial Marine License issued by the department) to a maximum of five onaga or ehu or a mix of both, per person.

13-94-8 Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas

Prohibits bottomfishing and/or possession of bottomfish within restricted areas. Unlawful to take or possess bottomfish while in a vessel drifting or anchored within restricted area, except for emergencies.
DLNR will select areas, considering where adult onaga and ehu are caught, close 20% of onaga and ehu fishing areas, distribute restricted areas statewide, consider suggestions from bottomfish fishermen, etc.
Areas can be modified or established in a formal Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting. Maps attached in Exhibit A.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources may, in a publicly noticed Board meeting, modify or make new restricted fishing areas.
Restricted fishing areas to be reviewed and evaluated by DLNR, in consultation with fishermen and other relevant parties, for effectiveness no later than July 1, 2003.
Does not prohibit other activities, such as fishermen transiting area or trolling or handlining for pelagic species.

A figure showing the general locations of the original Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas (in red) in the Main Hawaiian Islands. This map is no longer current, and is presented for historical perspective only.

13-94-9 Bottomfishing Fishing Vessel Identification

Put identification on all bottomfishing vessels (commercial or non commercial) to help enforcement make positive ID. Vessel owner must register vessel with DLNR to obtain identification number. It would be unlawful for any vessel to take or possess bottomfish species without an departmental registration. (Please click here for a registration form.)

The ID number makes use of existing vessel numbering systems where established and displayed, including DBOR vessel registration, Federal fishery permit numbers, or US Coast Guard vessel documentation numbers. The letters BF on vessels indicates that they are registered with the department to fish for bottomfish. (Please click here for information on the vessels already registered for bottomfishing.)

13-94-10 Establish Control Date

Sets a date that may be used to qualify applicants for a future limited entry program for commercial bottomfish fishing, if one is developed by DLNR. Limited entry means that access to the commercial fishery may be limited, usually by limiting the number of fishing permits issued. Does not bind DLNR to establish a limited entry program, but if DLNR does, fishermen entering the fishery after the control date will not be guaranteed that they will get a limited entry permit. Control date was set on June 1, 1998.

The department has not yet developed a limited entry plan for the MHI commercial bottomfish fishery and details of potential qualification for such a program are not available.

Disclaimer

This information is presented to acquaint sport and commercial fishermen with State laws and rules pertaining to fishing in Hawai'i. It is not to be used as a legal document. Failure to include complete statutes or administrative rules in this summary does not relieve persons from abiding by those statutes and rules. Any discrepancies between this summary and the statutes or rules from which it was prepared will be enforced and ajudicated according to the official statutes and rules in effect on the date the activity took place. The full text of the statutes and rules is available for review at most public libraries in the State and at DAR and DOCARE offices.

What Does the Future Hold?

The DLNR realizes that no fisheries management plan is perfect or is guaranteed to work as first conceived. It views the bottomfish management plan as an evolutionary plan, that will change and be improved as we learn more about bottomfish and how best to conserve them at a sustainable level. The DLNR, as much as staffing and resources will allow, will support research and assessment studies of onaga and ehu, and other bottomfish, in the Main Hawaiian Islands to obtain more biological and fishery information on these fish. Improvements will be made to collection and analyses of fishery data and enforcement of regulations. A public education program will be started to inform fishermen of the new regulations and the public of the dire need to conserve and manage fishery resources before they are gone. Whether these ambitious goals can be achieved is highly dependent on the support the department gets from the community and from the Legislature.

This management plan was a cooperative effort between the State government and the fishing community. The DLNR hopes to use this model for developing management plans for other stressed fisheries in Hawai`i. Partnerships between government and the fishing community are the only way that we'll be able to establish sustainable fisheries so that we'll have (and can continue to) Fish for the Future.

For More Information

Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813
Phone 808-587-0100, FAX 808-587-0115

For comments or questions, call (808) 587-0092.

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