Fisherman's Catch Reports
Introduction
All holders of Commercial Marine Licenses (CMLs) issued by HDAR are required by law (Section 189-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes) to submit monthly reports of their fishing activities to HDAR by the 10th of the following month. There are cases when more than one licensee is involved in the same fishing activity, such as crew on a fishing vessel. In these cases only one licensee, such as the captain, is designated as the reporting licensee on his license and he will submit the monthly report to avoid duplicate reporting.
Some of the advantages of a mandatory Fisherman's Reporting system are its relative efficiency, low cost, the potential for excellent percent coverage, and the amount of information that can be collected directly from the fishermen.
The major disadvantage of this sytem is that it places the responsibility for accurate data recording and timely data submission on the fishermen. The assumption is made, therefore, that the data submitted by the fishermen are complete and accurate.
NWHI Bottomfish Trip Daily Log - Currently Used
All commercial fishermen with limited-entry Federal NWHI Bottomfishing permits are required to fill out this form for every day spent bottomfishing or fishing by other methods except longlining. They are to submit these forms to HDAR at the end of each trip and no later than the 10th day of the month after the end of the trip. These fishermen must also complete a NWHI Bottomfish Trip Sales Report for each fishing trip but they do not fill out the C-3 or any other Fishermen's Catch Report forms.
Originally when this program started in 1995 the older version of the NWHI Bottomfish Trip Daily Log was used. The licensee would enter his name, his CML number, the name of the vessel, its Coast Guard or Hawaii registration number, the day fished or day the form was filled out, the statistical area of the fishing and whether that area was in the NE, NW, SE or SW banks of the NWHI.
If the licensee bottomfished on that day he entered the number of lines used, the number of hours fished, the number of hooks per line, the depth of the hooks, the wind speed and direction and the wave height.
If the licensee caught anything by bottomfishing the licensee entered for each species the number of fish kept, an estimate of the pounds kept, the number of fish released and the number of fish damaged by predators whether kept or released. There is also a space to enter the number of unidentified bottomfish stolen by predators.
If the licensee fished by trolling, tuna handline or some other fishing method on that day, he checked the appropriate box near the bottom of the form to indicate the method and entered the number of lines used and the number of hours fished.
If the licensee caught anything by these other fishing methods, he entered for each species the number of fish kept, an estimate of the pounds kept, the number of fish released and the number of fish damaged by predators whether kept or released.
The previous version of this form added the current speed and direrection fields and added Ika-shibi and Palu-ahi as alternate fishing methods.
The current version of this form added the trip start and end date fields as well as port of departure and port of landing fields.
NWHI Bottomfish Trip Sales Report - Currently Used
All commercial fishermen with limited-entry Federal NWHI Bottomfishing permits are also required to fill out this form and submit it to HDAR at the end of any trip using bottomfishing or any other fishing method except longlining. It is to be submitted no later than the 10th day of the month after the end of the trip.
The licensee entered his name, his CML number, the month and the year and placed an "X" in the "Did Not Fish" box if he made no fishing trips during the month. If he made a trip he would enter name of the vessel, its Coast Guard or Hawaii registration number, the start and end dates of the trip and the port of landing.
For each species sold the licensee entered the number of fish sold, the total pounds sold, the price paid and whom it was sold to.
New Aku Boat Report - After October 2002
The New Aku Boat Report is a direct replacement for the old Aku Catch Report or C-4 Form described below. In the header area it allows for the entry of the vessel's local HA registration number in addition to the Coast Guard registration number. In the fishing effort section a new field for the number of people fishing is added.
The bait section of the new form is better organized with the day fished, locality fished, number of sets, and the number of buckets taken for each bait species in a separate section. Data on the bait species and buckets used are entered on the same lines as the data on the fish caught with that bait.
Like all of the new Fishermen's Catch Report forms it allows only entry of the number of fish landed and pounds landed for each species caught. The pounds sold, value and to whom sold fields of the older forms are deleted as these data can be obtained more accurately from the Commercial Marine Dealer's Reports.
New Fishing Report - After October 2002
For the fishing methods not covered by the other New Fisherman's Catch Report forms, the New Fishing Report is a replacement for the old General Fish Catch Report or C-3 Form described below.
The New Fishing Report form collects data on the fishing effort for each day such as whether this was a charter fishing day, the number of hours fished using the stated method in the stated area or near the stated buoy, the number of nets set and their length or the number or fishing lines or traps.
Like all of the new Fishermen's Catch Report forms it allows only entry of the number of fish landed and pounds landed for each species caught. It also asks for the number of fish lost or released for each species.
Deep Sea Handline Trip Report - After October 2002
This form is filled out by fishermen who have CMLs but not limited-entry Federal NWHI Bottomfishing permits and who make trips of three days or more in the main Hawaiian Islands fishing by deep-sea handline (bottomfishing), inshore handline, trolling and trolling with lures methods. Those who fish by these methods making less than three day trips report on the Fishing Report form.
This form is like the Fishing Report Form but is submitted to HDAR after each trip and has fields for the trip start and end dates instead of the month and year field in the Fishing Report Form and a port of landing field in the header.
In the Fishing Effort Section, this form has no space for indicating charter boats, and asks only for number of lines and the number of hooks per line.
For Onaga, Ehu, Opakapaka and other species it allows only entry of the number of fish landed, pounds landed and number for fish lost for each species caught. The bottom of this form asks for the number of fish lost to sharks and other predators.
Tuna Handline Trip Report - After October 2002
This form is filled out by CML holders who make trips of three days or more fishing by ika-shibi, palu-ahi, trolling with lures and hybrid methods. Those who fish by these methods making less than three-day trips report on the Fishing Report form.
This form is similar to the Fishing Report Form but is submitted to HDAR after each trip and has fields for the trip start and end dates instead of the month and year fields and a port of departure and port of landing fields in the header.
In the Fishing Effort Section, this form has no space for indicating charter boats and asks ony for number of lines.
For Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna this form asks for the number of fish landed and the total weight landed for fish less than 40 pounds and for fish more than 40 pounds. For other species it allows only entry of the number of fish landed and pounds landed. There is a separate column to enter the number of fish lost and released for each species caught.
Net, Trap and Dive Activity Report - After October 2002
This form is filled out by CML holders who fish by spearfishing, lobster diving, squiding, gill net, fence net, lay net, cross net, seine net, fish traps, lobster traps or shrimp traps and who catch more fish than can reasonably be entered on the Fishing Report Form. One of these forms must be filled out for each fishing day, fishing method and statistical area fished in.
The header only asks for the licensee's name, CML number, vessel name if one was used and its local HA or Coast Guard Registration number
For invertebrates like lobster, shrimp and squid this form asks for the number landed, the pounds landed and for those lost or released how many were berried, under size or lost or released for other reasons. For all other species this form asks for the number landed, the pounds landed and the number lost or released.
General Fish Catch Report (C-3) - Before October 2002
Before October 2002 all licensed commercial fishermen, except those who make multiday trips on fishing vessels, those who use the aku-pole-and-line method, those who collect live marine life for aquariums and those who operate fish ponds are required to submit a General Fish Catch Report or C-3 form for each month whether they catch anything or not. Even catches of marine life such as limu, squid, precious corals and crabs must be reported on the Genral Fish Catch Report.
If the licensee did not fish during a month the top of the form containing the name of the licensee, his CML number, the name of the boat if one was used, its local HA registration number, its Coast Guard registration number if it has one and the month and year covered on the form must be filled out with an X in the "did not fish" box.
For each day fished during the month, whether anything was caught or not, the day of the month, the area fished, the buoy or FAD fished for pelagic species, the type of gear used and the port of landing should be entered on the form.
For each species caught, the name of the species, the number caught, the total weight caught, the total weight sold, the total selling price and to whom it was sold to should be entered on the form.
Aku Catch Report (C-4) - Before October 2002
Before October 2002 all licensed commercial fishermen who use the aku or pole and line method are required to submit an Aku Catch Report or C-4 form for each month whether they catch anything or not.
They enter the same data as those who use C-3 forms except that there are separate columns for the two most common species, skipjack tuna and mahimahi, caught by this method and a third column for entering other species.
This form differs from the C-3 in that it collects data on the fish that are caught for bait. For each day that bait is fished for, the day, time and the locality fished must be entered whether any bait fish were caught or not.
For each bait species caught, the species name, the number of buckets caught, the number of buckets used, the number of buckets that died and the number of buckets left over must be entered
Pond Operators Monthly Fish Report - Before October 2002
Before October 2002, All licensed pond operators raising marine life such as mullet, limu, crabs, prawns or other fish by aquaculture were required to submit a Pond Operator's Monthly Fish Report for each month whether they harvested anything or not. This report was to be filed 10 days after the end of each month. After October 2002 the reporting requirements for the few remaining pond operators were dropped.
If nothing was harvested, the pond operator enters his name, his CML number, the month and year that the report covers, the name and location of the pond and the number of acres under water and places an "X" in the "Did Not Harvest" box.
If the pond operator harvested something that month, for each species he enters the number harvested, the total weight harvested, the total weight sold, the total selling price and to whom it was sold.
Longline Trip Report (C-5) - Before January 2002
Before Januray 2002 all licensed commercial longline fishermen were required to submit a Longline Trip Report or C-5 form for each longline fishing trip. This report was to be filed 10 days after the fishing trip ended whether they caught anything or not. This form was discontinued in January 2002 because it duplicated the information collected on the Federal Longline Log Form.
If nothing was caught, the reporting licensee still has to fill in his name, his CML number, the name of the vessel, its Coast Guard registration number, the start and end dates of the trip, the latitude and logitude where most of the fishing was done and the port of landing.
For each species caught during the trip the reporting licensee must report in the appropriate row for each longline species the number caught, the total weight caught, the total weight sold, the total selling price and who it was sold to.
At the bottom of the form the date bought and the number of cases bought are entered for each bait species on board the boat during the trip.
Crustaceans Trip Report - Before 2000
All licensed commercial fishermen were required to submit a crustaceans trip report for each multiday fishing trip that they made using lobster traps, shrimp traps or Kona Crab nets. This report was to be filed 10 days after the fishing trip ended whether they caught anything or not. This form was used until 2000 when the NWHI was closed to lobster and crab fishing ending the need for multi-day trips.
If nothing was caught, the reporting licensee fills in his name, his CML number, the name of the vessel, its Coast Guard registration number, the start and end dates of the trip, the latitude, logitude, area code where most of the fishing occurred and the port of landing and places an "X" in the "Did Not Fish" box.
If something was caught, the licensee checks which of the three fishing methods was used and for each species caught during the trip the licensee enters the number caught, the total weight caught, the total weight sold, the total selling price and to whom it was sold.
Albacore Trolling Trip Report - Before 1999
All licensed commercial fishermen were required to submit an Albacore Trolling Trip Report for each fishing trip that they made using the albacore trolling fishing method. This report was to be filed 10 days after the fishing trip ended whether they caught anything or not. This form was used until 1999 when this fishing method was discontinued.
If nothing was caught, the reporting licensee fills in his name, his CML number, the name of the vessel, its Coast Guard registration number, the start and end dates of the trip, the latitude and logitude where the fishing trip started and ended and the port of landing.
For each species caught during the trip the reporting licensee must report in the appropriate row for each species the number caught, the total weight caught, the total weight sold, the total selling price and to whom it was sold.