LIHU‘E — The fishers and scientists behind the annual Bottomfish Fishery Independent Survey (BFISH) will hold their second meeting of the autumn tonight, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
The BFISH initiative, which turned 10 years old in 2021, studies the Deep Seven – a group of fish species including the vibrant, scarlet-scaled onaga (Etelis coruscan). Its findings ultimately inform management policy.
Tonight’s online seminar will reveal “Where all the survey data collected goes,” according to a press release.
Scheduled speakers and topics include National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration scientists Ben Richards, Chris Demarke and Joe O’Malley, who will summarize this year’s BFISH survey; a panel of Pacific Island Fisheries Group fishing vessel captains, who will discuss their BFISH experiences; and NOAA scientist Felipe Carvalho, who will explain how survey data is used in stock assessments.
The bulk of the Deep Seven survey is performed by expert captains and crews contracted by PIFG, who fish randomly-selected 500-by-500-meter cells on a statewide “checkerboard” designed by NOAA personnel.
Kaua‘i’s own F/V Yukie-Lynn, helmed by Kevin De Silva of Kapa‘a, has performed the BFISH around Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau for several years.
Other fishing vessels and captains in the 2021 BFISH come from O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. They are: F/V Alice T, Capt. Brealand Tam; F/V Ao Shibi IV, Capt. Mike Abe; F/V Edisui III, Capt. Eddie Ebisui III; F/V Naomi K, Capt. Layne Nakagawa; F/V Renee NV, Capt. Roy Morioka; and F/V Ride On, Capt. Nathan Abe.
To join tonight’s meeting online, go to meet.google.com/euq/uiig-gzi.
To join by phone, dial 307-314-3832 and enter PIN 398763705.
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
