The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources reminds all commercial bottomfish fishermen that their Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep-7 trip reports are due within five days after the trip end date. Beginning Sept. 1, fishers who submit a late trip report will receive a Civil Resources Violation notice. Each late report will result in a $15 fine.
Because the current season, which officially ends Aug. 31, was the first in which the trip reports were required, aquatic resources staff have worked with fishermen so they could become familiar with the online reporting system for submitting their catch reports. For now, fishermen who submit their trip reports after the five-day deadline have received a reminder letter.
Division staffers expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation in submitting the majority of trip reports on time. So far this year, 75 percent of the trip reports have been submitted on time, within five days after the trip end date.
“The trip reports for the MHI Deep-7 bottomfish fishery are especially important, because the bottomfish fishery is managed with an annual catch target,” said a spokesman for the DLNR.
Submittal of the trip reports on time provides Deep-7 bottomfish landings data on a “real-time” basis instead of at the end of the month, which improves the accuracy of projecting the target attainment date necessary for closing the bottomfish fishery.
Reporting the Deep-7 catch by trip provides more real-time catch data, which also helps avoid exceeding the target. That, in turn, helps avoid any future restrictions on the total bottomfish catch.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a target of 325,000 pounds of Deep-7 bottomfish (onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, gindai, lehi and hapu‘upu‘u) in the main Hawaiian Islands for the new fishing year.
To review all rules — both existing and amended for bottomfish and bottomfishing — and the locations of the 12 restricted fishing areas, please visit the department’s website: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/fishing_bottom.html.
The annual catch target is monitored through commercial landings. If the target is projected to be reached, NMFS will close the commercial and non-commercial fisheries for MHI Deep-7 bottomfish for the remainder of the fishing year.
If the target is not reached, the fishing year will officially end on Aug. 31, 2013. DLNR also reminds bottomfish fishers that when the new fishing year opens on Sept. 1, the state’s 12 bottomfish restricted fishing areas, or BRFAs, will continue to remain closed to bottomfish fishing.
Commercial fishermen who have questions about their catch reports may call the Division of Aquatic Resources at (808) 587-0594. For more information about federal regulations or permits, contact the National Marine Fisheries Service at (808) 944-2200, or the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) at (808) 522-8220.
