Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Final Report - Hawaii longline swordfish, bigeye and yellowfin tuna fishery - On Behalf of Hawaii Longline Association

Citation
Control Union (UK) Ltd (2022) Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Final Report - Hawaii longline swordfish, bigeye and yellowfin tuna fishery - On Behalf of Hawaii Longline Association. Hampshire, UK
Abstract

This report covers the MSC full assessment of the Hawaii longline swordfish, bigeye and yellowfin tuna fishery. The assessment team consisted of Chrissie Sieben (Team Leader, Principle 2), Kevin McLoughlin (Principle 1) and Charles Daxboeck (Principle 3). The site visit took place during the week of the 10th January 2022. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated global travel restrictions, the MSC instated a derogation to ensure that site visits planned prior to 28th March 2022, could be held remotely. It was therefore considered more appropriate that the audit be held remotely. The assessment was undertaken in accordance with the MSC Fisheries Certification Process (FCP) v2.2 and MSC Fisheries Standard v2.01. The Risk-Based Framework (RBF) was applied to the Secondary Species component (2.2).
This assessment covers two separate components of the longline fishery carried out by members of the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA - https://www.hawaiilongline.org/): the Hawaii shallow-set swordfish longline fishery (UoAs 1 – 5) and the Hawaii deep-set tuna longline fishery (UoAs 6 – 10). A deep set (generally 40 – 350 m depth) is defined as a set with 15 or more hooks between floats as opposed to a shallow set (generally 45 – 75 m depth) that is characterized by setting less than 15 hooks between floats. The shallow-set fishery targets swordfish at night, whereas the deep-set fishery targets bigeye tuna during the day. Shallow-set trips are subject to 100% observer coverage, while a coverage of at least 20% is aimed at for deep-set trips. This fishery takes place in the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii and on the high seas. Management at the national level is ensured through a single limited-access program with no more than 164 vessels holding permits at any given time. Currently there are 142 HLA member vessels holding valid Hawaii limited-entry pelagic fishing permits. All vessels store their catch on ice, with minimal processing (heading, gilling and gutting). All retained catch is landed in Honolulu, Hawaii. There is no at-sea transshipment. No certificate sharing is in place.