Bottom Fishing
Bottomfish species covered by these rules include: ‘ula‘ula koa‘e or onaga (Etelis coruscans); ‘ula‘ula or ehu (Etelis carbunculus); kalekale (Pristipomoides sieboldii); ‘opakapaka (Pristipomoides filamentosus); ‘ukikiki or gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus); hapu‘u (Epinephelus quernus); and lehi (Aphareus rutilans)
Closed season
Unlawful to fish for or possess bottomfish during the period from May 1-Sep 30, 2007 and May 1-Aug 31, 2008. Closed seasons shall be modified in accordance and congruent with any announced federal closed season.
Gear restrictions
Unlawful to take bottomfish with any trap, trawl, bottomfish longline or net. Scoop nets may be used to bring on board a vessel any bottomfish that has already been caught. Unlawful to possess, while on board a vessel, both bottomfish and any trap, trawl, bottomfish longline, or net other than scoop net.
Non-commercial bag limits
Unlawful for any person without a current commercial marine license to take or possess more than a total of five onaga, ehu, or combination of both.
Bottomfish restricted fishing areas
Unlawful for any person to take or possess bottomfish while in a vessel that is drifting or anchored within any bottomfish restricted fishing area as indicated on this map, except in times of emergency.
Bottomfish fishing vessel identification number
Unlawful for any person to take or possess bottomfish while on a vessel without registering the vessel with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and obtaining a bottomfish fishing vessel identification number.
• If a vessel has an HA number or NMFS Federal fishing permit number that is current and properly displayed, the letters “BF” must be added about amidships, either on the sides of the hull or the superstructure. Letters must be no less than six inches high and three inches wide in black or a contrasting solid color to the background.
• If a vessel has a US Coast Guard documentation number but is not a Federal fishing permittee, the documentation number must displayed on the sides of the hull or superstructure, followed by the letters “BF.” Numbers and letters must be no less than six inches high and three inches wide in black or a contrasting solid color to the background.
• If a vessel has a federal fishing permit number already displayed, add the capital letters “BF” as a suffix. The “BF” letters must be no less than six inches high and three inches wide in black or a contrasting solid color to the background.
Coordinates of bottomfish restricted fishing areas (BRFAs)
The geographic boundaries of all BRFAs are defined by parallels of latitude (north and south boundaries) and meridians of longitude (west and east boundaries). The inshore boundary of all areas is given as a minimum distance from shore in nautical miles.
Download a pdf file (one page) showing detailed endpoint coordinates.
Geographic boundaries
(North, South, West, East sides; inshore boundary)
(Click on the links for pdf maps)
BRFA A: Ka‘ula Rock (1.5 MB)
North: 21°44’ N South: 21°41’ N
West: 160°39’ W East: 160°30’ W
Offshore distance: 1.25 nm
BRFA B: Ni‘ihau (2.2 MB)
North: 21°50’25” N South: 21°46’30” N
West: 160°07’30” W East: 160°04’30” W
Offshore distance: 2.0 nm
BRFA C: Kaua‘i (2.1 MB)
North: 21°52’30” N South: 21°50’30” N
West: 159°32’ W East: 159°23’ W
Offshore distance: 0.5 nm
BRFA D: O‘ahu (1.9 MB)
North: 21°39’ N South: 21°36’18” N
West: 158°24’ W East: 158°15’ W
Additional point: 21°36' N, 158°24' W
Offshore distance: 1.5 nm
BRFA E: O‘ahu (2.5 MB)
North: 21°25’ N South: 21°17’ N
West: 157°41’ W East: 157°32’ W
Additional point: 21°23'38"' N, 157°41' W
Offshore distance: 1.5 nm
BRFA F: Penguin Bank (1.5 MB)
North: 21°02’ N South: 20°55’ N
West: 157°34’ W East: 157°22’ W
Offshore distance: 5.0 nm
BRFA G: Moloka‘i (2.2 MB)
North: 21°14’ N South: 21°10’ S
West: 156°58’ W East: 156°52’ W
Offshore distance: 0.25 nm
BRFA H: Moloka‘i-Maui (2.3 MB)
North: 21°07’ N South: 21°03’ N
West: 156°42’ W East: 156°38’ W
Offshore distance: 1.5 nm
BRFA J: Maui (2.6 MB)
North: 20°55’ N South: 20°47’ N
West: 156°08’ W East: 155°59’ W
Offshore distance: 0.5 nm
BRFA K: Hawai‘i (2.8 MB)
North: 20°21’ N South: 20°05’30” N
West: 155°53’ W East: 155°25’ W
Offshore distance: 0.5 nm
BRFA L: Hawai‘i (2.3 MB)
North: 19°44’ N South: 19°35’ N
West: 154°59’50” W East: 154°54’ W
Offshore distance: 0.15 nm
BRFA M: Hawai‘i (1.9 MB)
North: 18°57’ N South: 18°51’ N
West: 155°41’ W East: 155°37’ W
Offshore distance: 0.5 nm
HAR 13-94 (7.9 MB) and 13-94rev (maps, 4.2 MB)
Go to Hawaii Bottomfish Fishery website (WPRFMC/NMFS/DAR)
To download shapefiles and create custom maps, go to the BRFA Downloading Site.
|
