Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources Technical Report 20-02 Evaluation of the status of the recreational fishery for ulua in Hawai‘i, and recommendations for future management October 2000 Benjamin J. Cayetano Governor DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES Department of Land and Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330 Honolulu, HI 96813 November 2000 Cover photo by Kit Hinhumpetch Evaluation of the status of the recreational fishery for ulua in Hawai‘i, and recommendations for future management DAR Technical Report 20-02 “Ka ulua kapapa o ke kai loa” The ulua fish is a strong warrior. Hawaiian proverb “Kayden, once you get da taste fo’ ulua fishing’, you no can tink of anyting else!” From Ulua: The Musical, by Lee Cataluna Rick Gaffney and Associates, Inc. 73-1062 Ahikawa Street Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Phone: (808) 325-5000 Fax: (808) 325-7023 Email:
[email protected] 3 4 Contents Introduction . 1 Background . 2 The ulua in Hawaiian culture . 2 Coastal fishery history since 1900 . 5 Ulua landings . 6 The ulua sportfishery in Hawai‘i . 6 Biology . 8 White ulua . 9 Other ulua . 9 Bluefin trevally movement study . 12 Economics . 12 Management options . 14 Overview . 14 Harvest refugia . 15 Essential fish habitat approach . 27 Community based management . 28 Recommendations . 29 Appendix . .32 Bibliography . .33 5 5 6 Introduction Unique marine resources, like Hawai‘i’s ulua/papio, have cultural, scientific, ecological, aes- thetic and functional values that are not generally expressed in commercial catch statistics and/or the market place. Where their populations have not been depleted, the various ulua pop- ular in Hawai‘i’s fisheries are often quite abundant and are thought to play the role of a signifi- cant predator in the ecology of nearshore marine ecosystems.