Evaluating the Effectiveness of Restricted Fishing Areas for Improving the Bottomfish Fishery in the Main Hawaiian Islands
Jeffrey Drazen and Chris Kelley (University of Hawaii)
In order to monitor bottomfish populations in the 12 new BFRAs implemented April 20th, 2007 by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, we are using a remote stereo-video baited camera system called the bottomfish camera or “BotCam”. With this system we can obtain species presence/absence, counts, and size distributions without harvesting fish. This data will be used to monitor the BRFAs to determine if bottomfish populations rebuild inside them and/or in adjacent areas open to fishing. The botcam project is a collaborative research effort funded and staffed by the University of Hawaii, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration Program, and the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources.
Bottomfish restricted fishing areas in the main Hawaiian Islands, effective 2007.
D.A.R (Department of Aquatic Resources) Web Site
N.O.A.A (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Web Site