2025 Observer Coverage Rate for the Hawai‘i Deep-Set Longline Fishery

NOAA Fisheries is establishing the at-sea observer coverage rate in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery at 7 percent, effective January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. This is a reduction from the 2024 rate of 13 percent.

We are making this change because the cost of the observer program continues to increase, and we anticipate 2025 funding will be insufficient to support the 2024 coverage rate in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. Lowering coverage will allow us to maintain coverage rates of 100 percent and 10 percent in the Hawaiʻi shallow-set and American Samoa longline fisheries, respectively.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to minimizing marine mammal bycatch through its observer coverage while fostering healthy and sustainable marine fisheries. We are analyzing options to manage observer efforts moving forward. This includes assessing alternative long-term options like electronic technologies to supplement monitoring and collecting fishery data.