Government Contacts & Information Resources for
Commercial Fishing, Seafood, Aquaculture, Marine & Oceans in Hawaii

Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources - Commercial fishing, fisheries statistics and commercial fishing reports for Hawaii. The mission of the Division of Aquatic Resources is to manage, conserve and restore the state's unique aquatic resources and ecosystems for present and future generations. The DAR manages the state's aquatic resources and ecosystems through programs in commercial fisheries and resource enhancement; aquatic resources protection, habitat enhancement, and education; and recreational fisheries. Major program areas include projects to manage or enhance fisheries for long-term sustainability of the resources, protect and restore the aquatic environment, protect native and resident aquatic species and their habitat, and provide facilities and opportunities for recreational fishing.

 

Hawaiian Government - Official Site

 

Hawaii Fish Species Pamphlet - Fishing and food from the sea are essential to Hawaii’s people, multi-cultural food traditions, our regional cuisine and visitor experience. It’s part of who we are and what makes Hawaii so special. Reconnecting people with local food sources is critical for preserving food traditions and production capacity in Hawaii both on land and from the sea. Local seafood is vital to the health, well-being, and food self-sufficiency of our island state. Widespread respect for our ocean and coastal environment and resources is crucial if we are to preserve the natural “seafood pantry” for future generations.

 

THE HAWAII SEAFOOD COUNCIL - The Hawaii Seafood Council (HSC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Hawaii Seafood Council supports responsible fisheries and sustainable seafood in Hawaii for future generations through consumer education, outreach, and research. We believe that marine fisheries, fishing and seafood are essential to Hawaii’s unique culture, food traditions, diversified economy, food security and healthy lifestyle.

Hawaii Sharks - Loads of information on sharks in Hawaii

 

Shark Attacks in Hawaii - Shark Incidents in Hawaii - This list and the accompanying graphics do not include encounters in which a shark does not actually bite a person or board (e.g. person grazed by a shark), nor incidents classified by the International Shark Attack File as boat attacks, scavenge, or doubtful. A few incidents were possible shark bites, but shark involvement was not confirmed, and are noted as such. All shark lengths are estimates. Type of shark is named only if established by evidence and/or witnesses. “Reef shark” refers to an unidentified carcharhinid species, but specifically excludes tiger sharks.

 

Species list of sharks in Hawaiian Waters:

Sharks
Order Orectolobiformes
Family Rhincodontidae
Whale shark, Rhincodon typus

Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Scyliorhinidae
Sponge-headed cat shark, Apristurus spongiceps

Family Pseudotriakidae
False cat shark, Pseudotriakis microdon

Family Carcharhinidae
Bignose shark, Carcharhinus altimus
Gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Silky shark, Carcharhinus falicformes
Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis
Blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus
Oceanic whitetip, Carcharhinus longimanus
Blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus
Sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus
Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Blue shark, Prionace glauca
Whitetip reef shark, Triaenodon obesus

Family Sphyrnidae
Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini
Smooth hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena

Order Lamniformes
Family Odontaspididae
Smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox
Bigeye sand tiger shark, Odontaspis noronhai

Family Psedocarchariidae
Crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai

Family Megachasmidae
Megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios

Family Alopiidae
Pelagic thresher shark, Alopias pelagicus
Bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus

Family Lamnidae
White shark, Carcharodon carcharias
Short-finned mako, Isurus oxyrinchus
Longfin mako, Isurus paucus

Order Hexanchiformes
Family Hexanchidae
Frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus
Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus

Order Squaliformes
Family Echinorhinidae
Prickly shark, Echinorhinus cookei

Family Dalatiidae
Combtooth dogfish, Centroscyllium nigrum
Kitefin shark, Dalatias licha
Blurred smooth lantern shark, Etmopterus bigelowi
Blackbelly lantern shark, Etmopterus lucifer
Smooth lantern shark, Etmopterus pussilus
Hawaiian lantern shark, Etmopterus villosus
Pygmy shark, Euprotomicrus bispinatus
Cookiecutter shark, Isistius brasiliensis
Viper dogfish, Trigonognathus kabeyai
Velvet dogfish, Scymnodon squamulosus

Family Centrophoridae
Mosaic gulper shark, Centrophorus tessellatus
Gulper shark, Centrophorus sp.

Family Squalidae
Shortspine spurdog shark, Squalus mitsukurii

Rays
Order Torpediniformes
Family Torpedinidae
Torpedo ray, Torpedo sp.

Order Myliobatiformes
Family Plesiobatidae
Giant stingaree, Plesiobatis daviesi

Family Hexatrygonidae
Sixgill stingray, Hexatrygon bickelli
Longnosed deepwater ray, Hexatrygon longirostra

Family Dasyatidae
Diamond stingray, Dasyatis dipterura
Brown stingray, Dasyatis lata
Pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea

Family Myliobatidae
Spotted eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari

Family Mobulidae
Manta ray, Manta birostris
Spinetail devil ray, Mobula japanica

SUBCLASS HOLOCEPHALI
Chimaeras

Order Chimaeriformes
Family Chimeridae
Purple chimaera, Hydrolagus purpurescens

Family Rhinochimaeridae
Longnosed chimaera, Rhinochimaera pacifica

Hawaii's Tuna
Four species of tuna are landed in substantial quantities in Hawaii:
Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) or tombo ahi;
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) or ahi;
Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) or aku; and,
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) or ahi.
Tuna caught off the Hawaiian Islands belong to stocks which migrate long distances across the Pacific Ocean, and their availability in Hawaiian waters is seasonal. In Hawaii, the peak season for most tuna species is summer (April-September), but in contrast, the heaviest landings of bigeye tuna occur in winter (October-March).

Hawaii's Billfish
Four species of billfish are caught in substantial quantities off the Hawaiian Islands:
Pacific blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), kajiki or a`u;
Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris) or hebi;
Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax), nairagi or `au;
Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) or shutome.

Hawaii's Other Open Ocean Species
In addition to tuna and billfish, a few other species are harvested in the open ocean waters off Hawaii. The best known of these species are the mahimahi (dolphinfish), ono (wahoo), monchong (bigscale or sickle pomfret), and opah (moonfish).

Hawaii's Bottomfish
Hawaii's commercial bottomfish catch is comprised of a dozen species of snappers and groupers. Three snappers, one grouper and one jack account for about 75% of the landings:
Snapper or Jobfish (Aprion virescens) or uku;
Grouper (Epinephelus quernus) or hapu`upu`u;
Crimson snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus) or opakapaka; and,
Ruby snapper (Etelis coruscans) or onaga.