Hawaii Kona Crab Loop Net Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data.  The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible.  If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used.  NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

Stranding records and other information suggest several marine mammal species may be killed or injured in unidentified fishing nets (Bradford and Lyman, 2015). However, no mortalities or serious injuries to any marine mammal have been attributed to the commercial Kona crab loop net fishery. The likelihood of marine mammal mortalities or serious injuries in this fishery is considered to be remote because of gear configuration and fishing method (small, nets stretched across a frame, short soak time).

Distribution

Fishing can occur in both state and federal waters. Fishing occurs from small boats in coastal or offshore bank areas, generally in depths of 15–30 fathoms. The fishery is closed during breeding season May-August. Kona crabs typically do not enter the net during the night, so fishing is exclusively conducted during the day. In 2013, there were 83 fishing trips that reported using Kona crab loop net gear.

Gear Description

Fishing with a fine stranded-netting stretched over a round or square metal frame to form a flat net. Nets may be fished singly or stranded together into a single mainline. Multiple nets are attached to a mainline and set on sandy bottoms like a string of traps. The crabs are trapped when they get entangled in the mesh. Soak time for each string is short, varying from 30 minutes to an hour. Strings are retrieved by hand.

Management

The fishery is monitored and managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), NOAA Fisheries, and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, as appropriate. In general, fisheries are managed for the species harvested rather than by gear, but in some cases there are specific management measures for particular gear types or methods.

The Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) for the Hawaii Archipelago and implementing regulations under 50 CFR 665.220 through 665.239 include a list of allowable gear and methods for harvesting Hawaii coral reef ecosystem management unit species (MUS) in the FEP management area (U.S. EEZ, outside of state waters). Use of gear or a method not listed as allowable requires a special permit pursuant to 50 CFR 665.224(1)(iii). Hoop net for Kona crab is listed as allowable gear to harvest Hawaii coral reef ecosystem MUS in federal waters. The Council recommends and NOAA Fisheries approves an annual catch limit (ACL) for Kona crab.

A commercial marine license issued by DAR is required for all commercial fishing activities. This fishery corresponds to the following fishing method(s) defined by DAR: Kona crab net. Hawaii Administrative Rules specify that the fishery is closed from May – August, only crabs of at least 4 inches carapace length may be retained, spearing is prohibited, and the taking or killing of females is prohibited.  

Historical Information

Timeline of Changes

References

Bradford, A.L. and E. Lyman. 2015.  Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans reported to NOAA Response Networks in the Hawaiian Islands during 2007-2012. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-45. 29 p.