The Lobster and Shrimp Fisheries in Hawaii

A description of the lobster and deepwater shrimp fisheries in Hawaii, addressing harvest levels, biology, and research, is presented. Both fisheries are trap fisheries. The lobster fishery is a limited entry fishery with 1991 landings of 200 metric tons. The shrimp fishery is unregulated, with very sporadic effort, and annual landings below 200 metric tons

Near-island biological hotspots in barren ocean basins

Phytoplankton production drives marine ecosystem trophic-structure and global fisheries yields. Phytoplankton biomass is particularly influential near coral reef islands and atolls that span the oligotrophic tropical oceans. The paradoxical enhancement in phytoplankton near an island-reef ecosystem—Island Mass Effect (IME)—was first documented 60 years ago, yet much remains unknown about the prevalence and drivers of this ecologically important phenomenon. Here we provide the first basin-scale investigation of IME. We show that IME is a near-ubiquitous feature among a majority (91%) of coral reef ecosystems surveyed, creating near-island ‘hotspots' of phytoplankton biomass throughout the upper water column. Variations in IME strength are governed by geomorphic type (atoll vs island), bathymetric slope, reef area and local human impacts (for example, human-derived nutrient input). These ocean oases increase nearshore phytoplankton biomass by up to 86% over oceanic conditions, providing basal energetic resources to higher trophic levels that support subsistence-based human populations

Simulated seasonal and interannual variability in larval transport and oceanography in the northwestern hawaiian islands using satellite remotely sensed data and computer modeling

Volume: 543Start Page: 365End Page: 39

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Report 4

This report documents a series of steps taken at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in response to the Order issued by Chief U.S. District Court Judge David Alan Ezra, District of Hawaii, in the case of CMC et al. versus NMFS et al.; CIVIL BO. 99-00152; dated November 23, 1999, to complete an analysis of the temporal and spatial distribution of interactions between Hawaii-based longline vessels and sea turtles to determine time and area closures that would provide the greatest benefit to the turtles