Division of Aquatic Resources

As the new year approaches, many Hawaii residents will be on the lookout for redfish such as Onaga and Opakapaka. These beautiful snappers are in demand as we get close to welcoming a new year because they are the color of LUCK! For those fortunate to know a fisher or have one in their family, the gift of a redfish will surely be a prized entrée be it steamed Chinese style, served as sashimi, or a combination of them both! For those looking to purchase fish, Hawaii’s commercial Onaga and Opakapaka fishers are hard at work to bring these fish to market during the holiday season. Just don’t blame the fishers for the high prices which peak every holiday season due to increased demand!

Deep 7 snapper served two ways: Ishizukuri sashimi display for celebrations and steamed .(Photo credit: PIFG BFISH project)

Hawaii fishers that target Onaga and Opakapaka, also known as “deep bottomfishers”, are culturally respected in Hawaii. The respect and lore of bottomfishers is a tribute to the tremendous skill and knowledge required to catch these magnificent fish. Traditional bottomfishers were extremely knowledgeable about the resource and sustainability. They regularly rotated fishing spots, never taking too much, and allowing fishing areas to recover, ensuring plentiful fish for future years. While many current commercial bottomfishers still employ traditional fishing practices and knowledge, technological advances in electronic fishing reels, global positioning systems, and the appeal of attractive and tasty bottomfish has attracted new fishers whom may not know about traditional fishing principles related to sustainability. At a recent meeting to review a new stock assessment describing the status of Deep 7, a complex of culturally important bottomfish which includes Onaga and Opakapaka, members of the fishing community voiced concerns that some fishers may not be practicing sustainable methods and they may be going unnoticed because fish sold via social media or direct to restaurants may not be captured in commercial fish catch and dealer purchase reports.

Large Onagas! (Photo credit:  Ed Watamura F/V Watagun)

Commercial fishers, defined as ANYONE that fishes and sells their catch in Hawaii, are required to obtain a Commercial Marine Fishing License and to report their catch to the state’s online fish catch reporting system. These catch data are used to monitor and evaluate the status of the resource. Deep 7 bottomfish are fished in both state (< 3 nm from shore) and Federal waters. The State of Hawaii co-manages the fishery with NOAA. The “tool” for management and ensuring the stock is sustainable is an annual catch limit (ACL). ACL’s  are set to prevent overfishing and the amount of catch is informed by a stock assessment.

Last week at Pier 38 in Honolulu, a panel of fish stock assessment experts met with representatives from NOAA, DAR, the Western Pacfic Regional Fisheries Council, Pacific Islands Fisheries Group, and commercial fishery representatives to review a new Deep 7 stock assessment. The new assessment determined the Deep 7 stock was still healthy and not currently overfished or experiencing overfishing. The review panel deemed the results scientifically sound and appropriate for providing management advice (ie setting a new annual catch limit). The stock assessment results are great news for Hawaii fishers and those that enjoy eating bottomfish. Additionally, the international panel of fish experts praised the commercial bottomfishing community for their involvement in both the science and management of the fishery noting that the level of commitment and collaboration is unique for fisheries around the globe!  Since 2011, commercial fishers have teamed up with NOAA fisheries to develop and gather important fisheries information. The panel, however, also echoed concerns from the fishing community about underreported catch and recommended further investigation of why and how much catch goes unreported.

Commercial fishers participating in collaborative research with NOAA. (Photo credit: PIFG BFISH project)

The majority of commercial bottomfishers in Hawaii practice sustainable fishing methods, engage in the science, and management, and their efforts help ensure beautiful and sustainable fish are available for purchase this holiday season. By fishing sustainably and reporting catch, this culturally important fishery can continue for many holidays to come.

Reminder to all commercial Deep 7 fishers:
The Deep 7 stock assessment uses Catch Per Unit Effort information from commercial catch reports as an indicator of the abundance of Deep 7. Declining catch information can indicate that there are fewer fish to be caught. Please do your part to keep this fishery and local tradition alive. Report all of your catch landed whether sold or not, as well as any fish lost to depredation.”