Hawaii Seine 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

There are no known incidental mortalities or serious injuries of marine mammals in this fishery, and there is a remote likelihood of marine mammal mortalities or serious injuries because the gear is actively fished and tended.

Distribution

Hawaii state waters, nearshore. Fishing can occur from shore or from vessels. In 2013, there were 186 fishing trips that reported using seine nets.

Gear Description

Includes hukilau, beach seine, dragnet, pen, surround, etc. Fishermen move nets through the water to surround fish by corralling and trapping them within the walls of the net.

Management

The fishery is managed by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and monitored by NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. 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 Fishing 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). Seine net is not a gear type specifically allowed to harvest Hawaii coral reef ecosystem MUS in federal waters, though barrier net, defined in the FEP as a small-mesh net used to capture coral reef or other coastal pelagic species, is listed as an allowable gear.

The Council recommends and NOAA Fisheries approves annual catch limits (ACLs) for most coral reef MUS, therefore species harvested using seine nets may be subject to ACLs.

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: seine net. Hawaii Administrative Rules specify a minimum size of 2-inch stretched mesh for nets.

Historical Information

Timeline of Changes