Hawai'i Fisheries Initiative - The Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs

Photo courtesy JOHN KANEKO
sell their catch almost exclusively through
wholesalers and corporations that own
their vessels, Hawai‘i’s fish auctions offer a
direct marketing option for Hawai‘i’s fishing
fleet. The fish auctions in Honolulu (run by
United Fishing Agency) and Hilo (Suisan
Company) are the only systems in the U.S. –
other than Fulton Street Market in New
York and a new auction in Portland, Maine –
where buyers can inspect the product
prior to bidding. 62 United Fishing Agency
can move upwards of 160,000 pounds
of fish a day through the Honolulu fish
auction (typically from 70 to 80 percent of
seafood is landed in the port of Honolulu
and is sold via its auction). 63 The auction
process contributes to the high quality of
Hawai‘i’s seafood: At the auctions, highly
experienced buyers inspect the quality of
the catch and bid competitively for the
best fish and lots. In addition, the sashimi
market offers its own price incentives for
the very freshest and best-handled fish. 64
Fish auctions offer fish by the piece or
lot. Tuna caught by longline are displayed
whole (also called “in the round”),
with wedges cut near the tail so buyers
can inspect the flesh. Large tuna caught
by troll or handline have a lengthwise
quarter removed from the whole fish
so that the core flesh can be inspected.
Marlins are halved crosswise to display
their flesh. Tuna and billfish are auctioned
first, followed by smaller species (which
are displayed in the round), including
bottomfish, reef fish, mackerel, mahimahi,
ono, crab, lobster, and shellfish. 65
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