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

Western Pacific Fisheries Management
Council, and the State of Hawai‘i
Department of Land and Natural Resources/
Division of Aquatic Resources. In addition,
non-governmental organizations – such as
the Pew Charitable Trusts and the publicprivate
national partnership of the Joint
Oceans Commission and Hawai‘i-based
organizations, officials, and individuals –
provided important pieces to an
accurate portrayal of the history, current
status, and future of Hawai‘i’s fisheries and
fishing industry.
Caveat About the Data
What results is a comprehensive study,
but given the often scattershot nature of
the data – fisheries being regulated and
managed by international, federal, and
state agencies with the intrinsic overlap
or varying methods of data collection,
reporting, and accuracy – gaps and
questions still remain. Of particular
significance was the lack of current data
available about Hawai‘i’s fisheries industry.
Many data sets and reports we referenced
were over a decade old, but were the only
information available to us.
Better Coordination and Updated
Data Collection Recommended
The purpose of this report is to provide
a comprehensive overview of Hawai‘i’s
fisheries industry. Initially, it was not
intended that this report provide any
recommendations about the overall
direction of the industry per se. However,
it became imperative for us to note the lack
of current and comprehensive information
to decision-makers, policymakers, and
the general public about one of the most
important industries in our state – fisheries.
Better coordination by federal and state
agencies involved in fisheries management
is a theme not just of this report, but
within those federal and state agencies
themselves. Targeted research, data
quality, public and industry education, and
enforcement of existing and new laws and
regulations are necessary calls to action
with the central goal of all the efforts
being sustainable fisheries for Hawai‘i’s
future. With accurate and credible data and
information, adequate planning, evaluation,
and management of Hawai‘i’s fisheries and
ocean resources can be better achieved.
In addition, as with any natural resource,
fisheries are in flux, affected by a multitude
of factors, some of which include
land-based development and its resulting
environmental impacts, the world pressures
of ocean resource depletion, market supply
and demand, and many more discussed
throughout this report.
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