Recreational and Non-Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands

NOAA Fisheries recognizes the major role that non-commercial and recreational fishing plays in the livelihoods of people in the Pacific islands. We work with fishermen and partners to conserve fish populations and protect our unique fishing traditions.

Pacific Islands

Sunset fishing at Ala Moana Beach Park, Honolulu.

Overview

Recreational fishing generates substantial social and economic benefits throughout the nation, and constitutes an important national pastime.

Recreational and non-commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands encompass fishing communities, habitats, and fishing practices spread over a vast area of nearly 1.5 million square miles of federal waters. The area is home to a highly productive coral reef, ocean bottom, and open ocean ecosystems, which surround all or part of three Pacific archipelagos—American Samoa, Hawai‘i, and the Mariana Islands—and seven widely spaced remote islands and atolls.

NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) is responsible for making sustainable recreational fisheries management decisions in Federal waters (generally 3 to 200 nautical miles from shore) around the islands. We manage these fisheries in coordination with local, state, and territorial agencies, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), and other partners.

Young boy fishing along the sea wall, Aunu'u, American Samoa.

Non-Commercial Fishing

In the Pacific Islands, non-commercial fishing is described as fishing that does not meet the definition of commercial fishing in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. It includes sustenance (fishing for food), subsistence (fishing as part of livelihood), traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing.

Non-commercial fisheries in the Pacific Islands are major economic contributors to coastal communities. They are socially and culturally significant, perpetuating subsistence and traditional fishing practices and their accompanying cultural values. Marine resources are regularly harvested for sharing and gifting within fishing communities (customary exchange), and portions of the catch often are sold to defray expenses, allowing fishing activities to continue.

In a survey of non-commercial fishermen in Hawai‘i, 66 percent indicated fishing for food was important, in particular catching fish for home consumption and for sharing with friends and family. Approximately 36 percent indicated that their catch is extremely or very important to their regular diet. In 2022, recreational fishing in Hawaiʻi supported approximately 2,062 jobs with trip expenditures of $435 million resulting in sales impact of $379 million. Shore-based fishing provided the largest share of economic impact to the state, compared to the private boat and for-hire fishing modes. Shore fishing provided 51 percent of total trip expenditures, 50 percent of total sales impacts, and 50 percent of jobs supported by non-commercial fishing. In waters around Hawaiʻi alone, experts estimate that more than two million pounds of fish are harvested non-commercially.

For a recent summary of non-commercial fishing activities throughout the Pacific Islands, see the Western Pacific Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Snapshot. There you will find highlights of the most commonly targeted species, annual catches, and more.

For information on how NOAA Fisheries works with Hawaiʻi to collect non-commercial fishing data from fishers and to learn more about how the data is used to inform sustainable fisheries management as well as other important purposes, visit the State of Hawai‘i’s Division of Aquatic Resources’ Hawai‘i Marine Recreational Fishing Survey page. In addition, this factsheet provides a brief overview of the data collection program in the state.

Permits and Licensing

National Saltwater Angler Registry: Federal law requires certain Hawai‘i fishermen (including spearfishermen) to register. Registration is not required if you only fish in freshwater, are under 16 years old, fish only on licensed charter boats, fish only in state waters, or are fishing under a valid commercial marine license.

Only fish in freshwater
Are under 16 years old
Fish only on licensed charter boats
Fish only in state water
Are fishing under a valid commercial marine license

Main Hawaiian Islands Non-commercial Bottomfish Permit: Required permit for non-commercial bottomfish fishing in federal waters in Hawaiʻi, unless you have a commercial marine license.

State and Territorial Fishing Regulations: Permits and licenses are required for certain types of fishing within state and territorial waters. The Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources approved a non-resident non-commercial fishing license in 2023.

Charter boat fishing off of Oʻahu's south shore.

Charter/For-Hire Fishing

The Pacific Islands Region has many well-established for-hire recreational fishing opportunities available through deep-sea charter boats, guided reef fishing, and eco-tourism. The majority of these services operate in the main Hawaiian Islands. American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam have smaller fishing charter industries to meet tourism demands. We encourage you to make sure the charter is a responsible and licensed company before booking.

Fishing boats docked at the Honokōhau Harbor, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi.

Collaborative Projects

With help and input from fishermen; local, state, and territorial agencies, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, and other partners, we have identified a list of goals to address the needs of the various non-commercial fishing communities of the Pacific Islands. Some of these planned efforts include:

Fish life history (mahimahi diet project)
Outreach and education (Marine Resource Education Program coming to the Western Pacific in April 2025)
Improved data collection
Habitat restoration

Two men collecting samples from ulua (giant trevally) caught during a local fishing tournament — Sampling from important local species, like ulua, helps fill life history data gaps to support better fisheries management. Credit: John Wiley, Poseidon Fisheries Research.

Grants

PIRO offers a variety of funding opportunities to support NOAA Fisheries’ mission. Several of these opportunities have supported projects that collaborated with and incorporated the non-commercial fishing community. You can find the annual reports for the PIRO Federal Programs Office here. The following projects are examples from recent awardees:

Optimizing economic benefits and advancing the promotion, development, and marketing of Hawaiʻi’s local fisheries.
Conservation International
Establishing cross-sector collaboration and capacity building to develop value-added seafood products, by engaging a multi-sector network of fishers, seafood distributors, chefs, educators, entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals.
Refining aquaculture methods for kumu and establishing preliminary tag and recapture efforts utilizing Hawaii’s fishing community.
Oceanic Institute of Hawaiʻi Pacific University
Refining aquaculture technology, estimating abundance of wild kumu (whitesaddle goatfish) populations to understand the contribution from cultured kumu, and enabling new commercial ventures in the local aquaculture industry.
Non-commercial fishing tournaments to educate the community and collect fisheries data in Hawai‘i.
Poseidon Fisheries Research
Conducting two nearshore non-commercial fishing tournaments, including educational workshops, marine debris cleanups, and fisheries data collection.
Youth fishing educational programs in Hawai‘i.
Nā Kama Kai
Teaching safe and sustainable fishing practices and Hawaiian cultural values of caring for the land and sea.

Funding opportunities in the Pacific Islands region

Meetings and Outreach

Engagement Activities

Council Meetings - These meetings provide a time and place for the public to learn about current fisheries issues and provide public testimony on agenda action items. The Council regularly updates their calendar with public meeting and outreach event information.
SAFE Meetings - SAFE (Scientist and Fishermen Exchange) meetings provide a comfortable and safe environment for genuine exchange of information. Representatives from multiple groups come together to discuss topics, and this improves collaboration and communication, encourages understanding, builds positive relationships, and fosters trust and respect among fishermen, scientists, and managers.
Please see our calendar of upcoming opportunities to meet with NOAA Fisheries staff to discuss recreational and non-commercial fishing topics.

Resources for Fishermen

Preventing and Reporting Marine Animal Interactions

Weather and Ocean Conditions

Tools

Hawai‘i Charter Fishery Studies

Contact Us

Keith Kamikawa
Fishery Management Specialist, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office
Dr. Hongguang Ma
Statistician, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Last updated by Pacific Islands Regional Office on 02/13/2025