Protected Species Mitigation

Hawaii longline vessels have been subject to independent observer coverage since the early 1990s. Currently, the deep set fishery is subject to 20% coverage and the shallow-set fishery is subject to 100% observer coverage. Around 20 vessels also voluntarily use on-board video monitoring systems.

The Hawaii longline fleet is a global leader in the development and implementation of mitigation measures for sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, and sharks. Measures include: gear and bait requirements, handling and release procedures, and spatial management.