Division of Aquatic Resources

Non-Commercial Fisheries Data Collection
Your Fishing Counts!
A cooperative project funded by:

Saltwater fishers play a major role in Hawaiߵi culture, nutrition and food security, and the economy. Sustainable fishing is a shared responsibility, and it starts with information from fishers. Your data is your voice.

The Hawaiߵi Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) began working with NOAA Fisheries in 2001 to collect marine, non-commercial (recreational) fishing data through the Hawaiߵi Marine Recreational Fishing Survey. DAR and other state and territorial agencies are funded by and partner with NOAA Fisheries through the Marine Recreational Information Program, which plays a central role in developing, administering, and certifying survey methods and establishing national standards. Decisions on which methods to implement and how to manage data collection for specific geographic areas and fisheries are made at the regional level. To estimate the number of fishing trips taken by non-commercial shoreline and private boat fishers in Hawaiߵi, NOAA Fisheries distributes a mail survey to a portion of all Hawaiߵi residential addresses. To estimate the number of fish caught, DAR staff collect catch data at various public fishing sites on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi. This includes fishing by rod and reel, spear, net, or other fishing gear. See the “How the Survey Works” section below for more details.

The survey program is also funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program (WSFR). Taxes on various hunting and fishing supplies/equipment as well as fuel taxes and import duties are managed by WSFR and allocated to eligible states and territories based primarily upon the number of licensed hunters or fishers and combined state land and water areas. These federal funds are also matched 3:1 with state funds, so for every $1 provided by the state, $3 is contributed by WSFR. These collective funds provide essential fishery dependent data for resource management purposes intended to enhance and perpetuate non-commercial fishing activities.

Background
For many residents of Hawaiߵi, non-commercial fishing includes recreational and subsistence fishing, as well as perpetuating cultural values such as providing fish for friends and neighbors and for various gatherings and events. “Fishing tourism” is also an important part of Hawaiߵi’s economy which provides fishing opportunities for visitors who book fishing charters or fish on their own accord. With a steadily growing population and tourism industry, however, the impacts of fishing activities, as well as other stressors such as development, pollution, and runoff, are increasing and putting more strain on nearshore resources. Thus, understanding the biological impact as well as the social importance of recreational and subsistence fishing is a vital part of the management process. It helps decision makers develop policies that ensure quality fishing opportunities for future generations.

The State of Hawaiߵi (Territory before 1959) has collected commercial fishing catch and effort data since the late 1940s via mandatory catch reports and other sources. The estimated number of resident non-commercial fishers far outnumbers the licensed commercial fishers in Hawaiߵi . Though the average catch and effort of a typical non-commercial fisher may be lower than that of a typical commercial fisher, the combined effect of all non-commercial fishers is significant and predominates for certain fisheries. Thus, both commercial and non-commercial data are two critical components needed by resource managers to comprehensively assess the collective effects of fishing on our coastal resources.

In addition to providing data on resource use, these surveys also provide a “voice” for non-commercial fishers. Data collection continues to provide a historical account of non-commercial catch and effort in Hawaiߵi. In the event a harvest allocation or catch quota is decided, this data can provide managers with the information needed to determine a total allowable catch or catch limit. If non-commercial catch was not counted, it’s possible that a harvest allocation for non-commercial fishers would be denied when these allocations were calculated.

How the survey works
Data from the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey and Fishing Effort Survey are used to calculate statewide estimates of total catch and effort by species, fishing mode (shoreline or private boat), and area fished (inland, state, or federal waters).

How is the data used?
Your data is your voice! The Access Point Angler Intercept Survey and the Fishing Effort Survey collect non-commercial fishing data, which is combined with separate commercial, biological (age, growth, reproduction), and direct observer data, to help inform fish stock assessments and plans for sustainable fisheries management. The intent of fisheries management is to provide the greatest access possible to fisheries, while acknowledging that the resources are not unlimited. Field interviewers play no role in law enforcement, and any personal information collected through the program is kept confidential.

Fisheries managers also use the data to monitor fish aggregating devices, artificial reefs and other essential fishing programs. The information you provide documents the importance of fishing to your community and helps protect your fisheries and inform optimal fishing access.

In addition, the data collected may:

• Contribute to damage assessments for oil spills, pollution, and other accidents that degrade non-commercial fisheries.
• Contribute to the planning of habitat conservation and restoration strategies important to fishery resources.
• Help the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) forecast demands for new piers, marinas, and boat ramps, and to locate these facilities where they will be most useful.

How can you help?
As a recreational or subsistence fisher, you can play an important role in Hawai‘i fisheries management. Your participation and cooperation with HMRFS field surveyors and mail surveys will provide valuable information that will help ensure that ocean fishing in Hawai‘i remains a productive and rewarding experience. For more information about HMRFS or to provide feedback, please contact the survey manager at the Honolulu DAR office.

Good Luck and Great Fishing!!

Fact sheet
HMRFS Fact Sheet (pdf, 1 Mb)

Sample survey forms
Sample HMRFS Intercept Survey Form (pdf, legal size, 266 Kb)
Fishing Effort Survey form (found in annual FES report appendices)

Additional resources
NOAA Fisheries non-commercial fishing data collection program
Recreational and Non-Commercial Fishing in the Pacific Islands
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

Contacts

Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813
Voice: 808-587-0100
FAX: 808-587-0115

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Our sincere appreciation to Michael A. Nelson, first survey manager, and Maury F. Osborn, former Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey Task Leader, who were instrumental in bringing NOAA Fisheries and DAR together. Our gratitude to NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Information Network for advice and generous donations of computer equipment in support of the survey project. Mahalo to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, especially the Recreational Data Task Force headed by the late Richard Shiroma, for their encouragement and support of non-commercial fisheries data collection. And last but not least, mahalo to all of the state surveyors past and present for their dedication and time spent in the field building trusted relationships with the public.