New Fishing Rule to Ensure Fresh Supply of Sashimi Through the Holidays
Schatz worked with Hawai‘i Longliners and NOAA on Rule to Access Portions of CNMI’s Ahi Catch
Honolulu, HI – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has approved Amendment 7, a rule proposed by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council to establish a management framework and process for specifying fishing catch and accountability measures for fisheries in the U.S. Pacific territories.
Senator Schatz successfully pressed Hawai‘i’s case to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and as a result, appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2014 urged NOAA to take action. Schatz continued to work with NOAA, the Hawai‘i Longline Association, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council on a solution that allows the longliners to keep fishing year round in a responsible, sustainable way and increase ahi catch for the rest of the year.
“Sharing sashimi with family over the holidays is a valued tradition in Hawai‘i.” Senator Schatz said. “For many years, the threat of a shortage during the holidays has caused higher prices for families and less productivity for our fishermen. That is why I am so pleased we were able to work with both NOAA and the Hawai‘i longliners on a solution to increase our ahi catch, ensuring Hawai‘i families won’t experience any shortages of sashimi when ringing in the New Year.”
The framework would authorize the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to allocate a portion of its ahi quota to Hawai‘i’s longline fleet. Under the current regime, the longline fleet would likely exhaust its own ahi tuna quota in November, just before the holiday season, when demand spikes. Amendment 7 allows Hawai‘i’s fleet contract with the CNMI to use a portion of its unused quota. By combining the unused quota from the CNMI with its own, Hawai‘i’s fleet can remain active all year round, ensuring the state’s supply of the seafood delicacy for the remainder of the year. The rule also serves as a workable blueprint for similar action in the coming years.
###
