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SECTION 10 - HAWAII FISHERIES 



Landings of commercially caught fish and shellfish In the State of Hawaii were 11.1 million 

 pounds worth $3. 9 million to the flshermen--an Increase of 1.5 million pounds and $4 17, 000 com- 

 pared with 1969. Tuna landings Increased from 7.1 million pounds In 1969 to 8 . 5 million In 1970, 

 and accounted largely for the gain. The principal Increase was In skipjack tuna landings of 7.3 

 million pounds — 1.4 million (23 percent) greater than in 1969. Compared with 1969, landings of 

 yellowfin tuna (683,000 pounds) Increased 66 percent but albacore, bluefin, and little tuna de- 

 clined. 



Landings of the white crab ( Portunus sangulnolentus ) called "kuahonu" by native Hawallans 

 were 40,800 pounds — 112 percent more than In 1969. The marked Increase followed a change from 

 using nets in shallow Inshore waters to using traps in deeper waters. 



Hawaii State biologists continued investigations intended to develop a mariculture industry 

 for prawns . Assisted by a Federal Aid to States cooperative program administered by NMFS, they 

 began product ion -type experiments designed to culture the giant Malaysian prawn In ponds. Pre- 

 vious research had led to successful rearing of large numbers of prawns from fertilization through 

 the various juvenile stages. 



Fishery products were landed at six of the eight principal islands that form the State of 

 Hawaii. Oahu led the islands with a production of 9 . 1 million pounds. The Island of Hawaii was 

 next with 830,500 pounds, followed by Maui with 806,400 pounds. The rest of the landings were 

 made at Kauai, Lanal, and Molokal. In 1970, 1,436 fishermen operated 82 vessels of 5 net tons 

 or more, 637 motor boats, and 49 other boats. 



The data in this section were assembled and prepared for publication by the NMFS's area 

 office, Honolulu, Hawaii, largely from information collected by the Hawaii Department of Land and 

 Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Game. 



The following tables contain summarized and detailed information on the 1970 operating 

 units and landings by islands of the State of Hawaii. 



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