Fresh bigeye tuna landed by US flagged, Hawaii-based longline vessel at Honolulu’s daily fish auction.

HONOLULU (16 March 2020) Due to COVID-19 impacts, local food security, self-sufficiency and access to healthy food and fish are increasingly important. Hawaii longline vessels are positioned to continue supplying fish to Hawaii restaurant and retail markets for local Hawaii consumption during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hawaii longline fishery is the largest food producing industry in the State of Hawaii. The fishery is comprised of 150 active vessels supplying highly monitored fresh, ice-chilled fish to Hawaii and US mainland markets.

The Hawaii longline fishery is considered globally as a golden standard in tuna  fisheries, with robust management measures and strict monitoring and enforcement.

Hawaii residents consume seafood at twice the national average, as fish is culturally important to Hawaii’s diverse communities.

According to HLA Executive Director Eric Kingma, PhD, “The Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) is working with government officials, restaurants, and retail outlets to ensure that Hawaii consumers continue to be supplied with safe, high-quality, healthy seafood products caught by Hawaii longline vessels.”

For further information, contact Kingma at (808) 389-2653 or Eric.K.Kingma@gmail.com

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Hawaii Longline Association
1131 N. Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, Hawaii (808) 389-2653 www.hawaiilongline.org/

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
A Council authorized by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawai`i • Tel (808) 522-8220 • Fax (808) 522-8226 • www.wpcouncil.org

Hawaii Seafood Council
https://www.hawaii-seafood.org/

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