ATTENTION ALL HAWAII BOTTOMFISH FISHERMEN:

State of Hawaii Extends Closed Fishing Season for Bottomfish till November 14, 2008 (more...)

NOAA Fisheries Extends Closed Fishing Season for        Bottomfish till November 14, 2008                               (season to re-open November 15, more...)

The Hawaii bottomfish fishery is a hook-and-line fishery that targets a range of snappers and groupers that live on the outer reef slopes, seamounts and banks of the Hawaii Archipelago at depths of between 50 to 200 fm.

Bottomfish are caught both by commercial and non-commercial fishermen around the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) and by commercial fishermen in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). A limited entry program is in effect for bottomfish vessels in the NWHI whereas the fishery in the MHI open to all fishermen. The quantity of the non-commercial catch around the MHI is unknown and unreported at this time.

The State of Hawaii has implemented a series of area closures around the MHI and recreational bag limits to address the problem of local overfishing of bottomfish in the MHI. However, recent scientific analysis of commercial catch data indicates that the amount of fishing for bottomfish occurring in MHI is not sustainable for the local MHI populations of seven commonly caught deepwater species. Known as the Deep 7, they include onaga, opakapaka kalekale, hapuupuu, ehu, gindai and lehi.

As an immediate initial response, State and federal fishery managers have implemented a seasonal closure from May 15 to September 30, 2007, in the MHI during which time longer term management measures are being developed.

Click here for Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfishing landings

Click here to let us know how the 2007 Bottomfish Summer Seasonal Closure worked