In early dawn in late November, before most begin their day, longline boats pile in to drop off thousands of pounds of fish to the Honolulu Fish Auction. Vui Vui, a longline boat hauled out three full crates of tuna that day. Vui Vui’s load was belittled by the heaviest row of ahi which equaled to 10,017 pounds. A total of 1,634 fish were dropped off at the auction that Tuesday. The warehouse where the auction takes place is filled with pallets surrounded by ice, laying on top, is a wide variety of freshly caught fish. Rows of moonfish, mahi-mahi, swordfish and bigeye tuna waiting to be sold off to the highest bidder. The constant noise of movement and biding is exciting but what is surprising is the amount of fish that comes through.
“This year for longline fishing has been phenomenal,” said fisherman and owner of Ahi Assassins Josh Schade. “I’ve had friends make $300,000 at this point.”
Hawaii is surrounded by the ocean where fish are always found at local dinners, cookouts and special occasions. The state’s love for fish is expressed by its numerous fish markets, sushi restaurants and poke shops. The highly sought after bigeye tuna that has been recognized for its nutritional value is a requirement in most resident’s diet. However, with the market for bigeye tuna and fresh fish rising, over-fishing has become a growing problem in Hawaii.
Regulations and ahi tuna quotas were emplaced to combat the threat of the pacific populations to enter the endangered list. Only the bluefin tuna has been recognized as endangered so far. The yellowfin and bigeye tuna are listed as near threatened according to the World Wildlife Fund whose goal is to prevent species extinction.
Over-fishing has already impacted Hawaii’s residents with higher prices and a decaying ecosystem. Reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands are depleted and range from 20 to 78 percent according to a study done by the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.
Prices for fresh fish have risen in the past decade where a pound for fresh ahi tuna today can reach $30. The price of ahi tuna has doubled its price in 2010 which ranged from nine to fifteen dollars. These raises are due to the regulations and quotas that make fisherman travel farther and fish a specific weight each year.
This year being great for local commercial fishing might create problems for Hawaii fisheries and state residents in the future. The United States supply of fresh and frozen tuna was 604,229 pounds in 2015. Last year was three times larger than the recorded supply in 2006 according to the Fisheries of the United States report done by the National Ocean Atmospheric Association.
“There are a number of activities that are effecting the productivity of our Hawaiian waters and the fish and seafood we so much appreciate,” said Professor of Oceanography Jeff Drazen. “One of which is over-fishing, over-fishing is a big problem in Hawaii.”
Several studies have highlighted dramatic differences in reef fish groups between settled and remote coral reef areas, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and NOAA reported. They found reef fish at remote reefs typically being several times that at human-populated areas.
Many jacks, parrotfish and other reef fish populations in the inhabited Hawaiian reefs are disappearing. A study by NOAA has found that in the past years these populations have beeen decreasing due to over-fishing.
Many of Hawaii’s coral reefs are not abundant as they were a decade ago and over-fishing is directly related. Not only does over-fishing effect fish populations but also have a direct impact on the reef that these fish maintain and live off. If fish that eat coral algae are scarce then the algae will overgrow and the coral will begin to die.
“It’s very easy to over fish one species and throw everything out of whack.” Said NOAA Fisheries Research Corporations of the University of Hawaii researcher, Kevin Lino.
Commercial and tournament fishing target larger older fish which can be detrimental to that species population and lead to smaller amount and size. These large “trophy” fish are targeted which leaves only small fish to reproduce leading to smaller sized fish and smaller populations.
“Large fish are high number breeders and produce the most eggs these fish are highly targeted, which affects the balance of the ecosystem.” Said Lino.
Population of the highly sought after ahi tuna are likely to be endangered if the rate of fishing continues. Studies have shown that fisheries in the pacific have lead the prey fish lancetfish to rise above the ahi tuna itself.
“Usually when one population goes down another replaces it, which isn’t always a good thing.” Said Oceanographer from NOAA UH Manoa Eric Tong.
Hawaii by its residents and some visitors prize its waters for fishing. There are many types of fisheries here, recreational, commercial, offshore deep sea fishing, sport and survival fishing which all play a part in the damage of over-fishing. The survival and recreational fisheries are the most probable threat due to their range being in the near shore reef system which would reap the most damage from over-fishing.
Bronson Doria Jour-320 