Hawaii Bottomfish Observer Program

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Bottomfish fishery targets deepwater snappers, groupers and jacks. This fishery is managed through a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) established by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council from authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Because of the uncertainties of the levels of Hawaiian monk seal interaction, holders of NWHI Bottomfish permits in this are required to carry observers when directed to do so by the PIR Regional Administrator. The goal of the PIRO Bottomfish Observer Program is to document any incidental takes of protected species and the rate of protected species interactions with bottomfishing operations and gear.

Deploys fishery observers on Hawaii bottomfish fishing vessels targeting bottomfish to record information on gear, catch information, morphometrics, specimen collection, environmental data and interactions with protective species such as sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds.

The last observed bottomfish trip occurred in March/April 2006 and the bottomfishing ended in the NWHI in January 2010.