Pacific Fisheries Coalition represents a unique collaboration between conservationists and fishermen to promote the protection and responsible use of marine resources through education and advocacy in Hawai`i and the Pacific.

A joint project of the Hawaii Audubon Society and the Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation, PFC has received major support from the PEW Charitable Trusts, the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, and the Marisla Foundation.

University Of Hawaii Professor Charles Birkeland Reveals A Powerful Slide Early On In His Presentation About The Importance Of Big Female Fish...

An article in a series about inshore fish of Hawaii. The 12-part series is a project of the Hawaii Fisheries Local Action Strategy.
By Scott Radway

  Birkeland is talking to a crowd gathered at Bishop Museum about the practice of taking the largest fish from a fishery and allowlng the younger fish to grow. But when it comes to egg production, he says, that might be counterproductive....

Download the Fish Life article, pdf with full color photographs.
(pdf, 320 KB)
FishLife is produced by the Division of Aquatic Resources and funded by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SHARK FINS, & ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED SHARK FISHING

BY LINDA PAUL

  The unsustainable international trade in sharks, fins, parts, and derivatives, and the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing of sharks for the fin trade poses a global threat to wild populations of sharks and rays and to their associated ecosystems...

Download the pdf with full color photographs.
(pdf, 1.4MB)
Copyright 2009 Hawaii Audubon Society

Hawai`i Aquatics Conference - January 10-11, 2009

Sponsored by: Hawai`i Audubon Society
Lynn McCrory, PAHIO Development, Inc.
PEW Environmental Group Department of Land and Natural Resources
Marine Conservation Biology Institute
Conservation Council of Hawai`i

The Hawai`i Aquatics Conferences arose from the realization that aquatics research, management, education, and policy planning consist of many individual and generally uncoordinated efforts by people who rarely interact with one another. Holding a state-wide meeting every two years would provide a regular forum for managers, fishermen, educators, conservationists, policy makers and the general public to share information and ideas on better ways to manage integrated aquatic systems (streams and riparian areas, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, coral reefs, and nearshore waters) and to explore various resource management approaches.

Download the conference agenda, including presentation abstracts.
(pdf, 1.7MB)

IN THE PRESS

Plan to reduce loss of false killer whales is ordered
(Jan 20, 2010 - Associated Press )

The federal government said yesterday it will form a group to develop ways of preventing the accidental snagging of a rare dolphin species by the Hawaii-based longline fishery.

The fishery is accidentally killing or seriously injuring an average of 7.4 false killer whales each year in waters off Hawaii, the National Marine Fisheries Service said in a Federal Register notice...

Fishermen are expected to join marine mammal biologists, environmental activists and government officials in developing a plan to reduce the number of the dolphins getting caught in fishing gear. The group is due to meet in Honolulu Feb. 17-19...

* WHITE PAPER* - Marine Reserve Initiatives in Hawaii 1999-2007

Legislative History of Marine Protected Areas, right-to-fish fight (2007)

We are running out of fish, at least wild-caught fish. Such headlines, and the need for "sustainable" fishing, continue to show up in the media. But is "sustainable" fishing even possible? Thirty years ago fisheries managers were taught that "surplus" production could be safely harvested and that all they needed to do was determine what the surplus was. Now we are coming to the realization that surplus production is probably a myth....(HTML)

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands proclaimed a National Monument! Visit the NWHI Network.

* Education Products Available

* MOVIE* - One of the Last Wild Places on Earth
(Flash player required)

• forums for the fishing community and the Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources personnel to exchange views and work together to achieve sustain able fisheries.

• research papers, reports, and briefings by experts on the status and management needs of Hawaii's fisheries to the Hawai`i State Legislature and Hawaii's congressional delegation.

• educational tools such as a comprehensive webpage, reference brochure, cdrom, classroom materials, and videos to provide information about our marine resources.

• volunteers to visit schools and community groups to talk about the need to conserve and responsibly manage Hawaii's marine resources.

• William Aila, a Hawaiian fisherman and co-founder of the Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation, serves as educator and community spokesman for PFC to malama Hawaii's fisheries by achieving a common ground among managers and users.

• Ellyn Tong, PFC Outreach Coordinator.

• Linda Paul, Executive Director and former President of the Hawaii Audubon Society, serves as the project administrator and fisheries lawyer for PFC.

The Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation was established in 1991 to foster a better working relationship among all ocean users and support sound fisheries management.

The Hawai`i Audubon Society, founded in 1939, strives to foster community values that result in protection and restoration of native ecosystem and conservation of natural resources through education, science, and advocacy in Hawai`i and the Pacific.

side photo by Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps (ret.)