A geographic analysis of trends in catch, catch per unit of effort (CPUE) and value of bigeye tuna (thunnus obesus) by the Hawaiʻi longline fishery from 1994--2008

Abstract

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is the cornerstone of Hawaii's deep-set, commercial longline fishery and fishers have been willing to travel farther from Hawaii in search of it. This study serves as an introduction to Hawaii's longline fishery and some of the challenges it continues to face. The commercial tuna fishery in Hawaii has many players: the fishers trying to make a living, the government organizations working to manage our ocean resources sustainably, the people with an appetite for fish, and the people who say that not enough is being done to protect these apex predators. This study approaches this resource management issue by utilizing a geographic information system to display and describe the spatial-temporal patterns of Hawaii's longline fishery from 1994 to 2008 and demonstrates that this fishery has grown in every regard. There has been a steady increase in effort, catch and value of bigeye tuna. There has also been a growing geographic distribution of the fishery, however the vast majority of bigeye catch and value occurred around the main Hawaiian Islands. The catch rate has not shown the same steady increases and that leaves fisheries managers in the position to make the difficult decisions needed to ensure a sustainable fishery.