Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

(3) That NMFS implement a federal permit and reporting program to capture catch and effortinformation for all bottomfish management unit species harvested in recreational fisheriesand landed in Hawaii. Recreational trip report forms will be created consistent (lat/long,per trip basis) with commercial catch reporting forms and filed after each trip.(4) That the Council, State, NMFS and USCG conduct a comprehensive education andoutreach program in coordination with the implementation of the new permit andreporting programs and fishing restrictions and in anticipation of total allowable catchlimits.(5) That Council staff reconvene the bottomfish working group to facilitate coordination ofthe above as well as scientific monitoring and enforcement activities.Relating to establishing State and Federal regulatory programs by 2007:(1) That the Council and NMFS develop and implement a Federal recreational permitprogram by October 1, 2007 followed by trip reporting program no later than February15, 2008 (see 3 above).(2) That the DAR seek to implement an improved State commercial license and tripreporting and seafood dealer licensing program (see 1 and 2 above).(3) That a 5 month seasonal closure be implemented through State and Federal emergencyrule making in federal and state waters for onaga, ehu, gindai, opakapaka, kalekale, lehiand hapuupuu (deep-7 bottomfish species) harvested around the Main Hawaiian Islandsfrom May 1 through September 30, 2007.(4) That a Total Allowable Catch limit based on commercial catch data be implemented in2007 (with the fishing year to start on October 1, 2007) based on reducing commercialfishing mortality by 24 precent relative to 2004 commercial fishing mortality. The PacificIslands Fisheries Science Center, in consultation with Council advisory bodies, willcalculate a commercial TAC for consideration at the June 2007 Council meeting. TheTAC will apply to MHI deep-7 bottomfish species. Once the commercial TAC isreached, both commercial and recreational fisheries in the MHI will be closed.Recreational TAC will be developed in the future based on information collected throughthe new recreational permit and reporting program.(5) That DAR seek to modify its recreational bag limits to include all of the deep-7 species(currently only for onaga and ehu).Relating to establishing State and Federal regulatory programs by 2008 and beyond:(1) That a 4 month seasonal closure be implemented in federal and state waters for onaga,ehu, gindai, opakapaka, kalekale, lehi and hapuupuu (deep-7 bottomfish species)harvested around the Main Hawaiian Islands from May 1 through August 31 in 2008.(2) That a Total Allowable Catch limit (based on commercial and recreational catch data) beestablished annually beginning in 2008 (with the fishing year to start on September 1101