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between U.S. Longline FisheriesProgress Reports: FY 2001, FY
2000, FY 1999, FY 1998 (see below) The recent history of
Hawaiian pelagic fisheries gives insights into the factors
causing significant geographical migrations of longliners.
Betweem 1988 and 1991, the number of longliners based in Hawaii
increased from around 50 to over 140 while total longline trips
increased from about 700 to 1700. Most of the new vessels came
from either the Gulf of Mexico or the North Atlantic, though
some also came from the West Coast. The collapse of the Atlantic
swordfish stocks undoubtedly contributed greatly to the
migration of vessels to Hawaii. In response to the sizable
influx of vessels into the Hawaii longline fishery the Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council imposed a "limited
entry system" that placed a fixed cap on the number of longline
vessels operating out of Hawaii. Numerous vessels have continued
to migrate in and out of the Hawaii fishe