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

also refers to the incidental take
of protected marine mammals and
endangered species such as sea turtles and
seabirds). Participating agencies include:
Wespac, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
U.S. Coast Guard, and the NMFS Office of
Enforcement. 225
Due to past issues with the incidental
take of endangered species, 100 percent
observer coverage is mandated in the
shallow-set longline swordfish fishery.
Approximately 30 vessels participated in
the fishery in 2005, logging nearly 1,600
fishing days a year (28 days on an average
trip). The fishery closes once the annual
bycatch cap of endangered loggerhead (17)
and leatherback (16) turtles is reached. 226
The longline tuna fishery has approximately
25 percent observer coverage. In
2005, 164 federal limited-entry longline
permits were allowed in the fishery, and
approximately 110 vessels actively fished.
Bycatch includes several species of shark;
incidental takes include loggerhead,
leatherback, olive ridley, and green sea
turtles; black-footed and Laysan albatross;
dolphins; and pilot, humpback, false killer,
and sperm whales. 227
The observer program for the NWHI
bottomfish fishery was initiated in 2003 to
document protected species interactions
(monk seals, seabirds). Data on catch
and discards is also collected. The eight
permitted vessels fished an average of
1,200 days in 2005; observer coverage was
20 percent. 228
Monitoring and Enforcement
Enforcement is labor and resource
intensive. Effective enforcement depends
on many factors: availability of personnel
and equipment, cohesive management
regimens in federal and state fisheries
management plans, and the specific
management plan being enforced. State
and federal enforcement agencies include:
u U.S. Coast Guard – helicopters can spot
vessels, NOAA/DLNR dockside agents
board and inspect for violations 229
u NOAA/NMFS Pacific Islands Division Office
of Law Enforcement 230
u NOAA Office of the General Counsel,
Southwest Regional Office – enforces
federal violations 231
u NOAA/NMFS Pacific Islands Division Office
of Law Enforcement 232
u DLNR Division of Conservation and
Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) 233
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