Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Hawaii anxiously watching year-end tuna supply
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Hawaii anxiously watching year-end tuna supply
By AUDREY McAVOY,Associated Press Writer -
Sunday, November 22
Send
IM Story
Print
HONOLULU – On New Year's Eve each year, thousands line up at fish counters across Hawaii to buy blocks of raw tuna, hoping that eating it will bring good luck and prosperity in the new year. This year, the long tradition may get a little more difficult to observe.
For the first time, federal regulators are expected to prohibit the catching of bigeye _ Hawaii's favored tuna variety _ in waters west of the islands once the fishermen hit their annual catch limit. They're on course to do that around the first or second week of December.
The potential for a shortage has produced anxiety here among consumers, fishermen, wholesalers and retailers, leaving them to wonder if they'll be able to get hold of the tuna, or ahi.
"We may not have as much fish. In terms of quality, I don't know how it's going to compare to what we normally have," said Brooks Takenaka, assistant general manager at United Fishing Agency, which runs Honolulu's fish auctions. "Those are questions nobody has any answers to right now."
The tradition began with Japanese immigrants who arrived here a century ago to work on the sugar plantations but has since spread to the numerous other ethnic groups. The custom in Japan is to eat tai, or sea bream, for good luck. But this fish isn't found in waters around Hawaii so the immigrants substituted ahi.
Clarence Gonsalves said he's never had a New Year's without tuna before. "It's a tradition in Hawaii. No matter what the price is, you'll have it," said the 76-year-old retired supermarket meat cutter. "We've never run out of it."
This year the outlook is not so clear. While everyone agrees there will be tuna on the shelves, they're not sure how much or what kind. That's because those responsible for managing fish stocks believe fishermen must curtail their bigeye catch to protect the species, which is prized around the world for sashimi, or Japanese-style raw fish.
Environmentalists say people are catching so much bigeye in the Western Pacific that the fish are close to the point where they won't be able to reproduce fast enough to replace what's caught. The situation is already that dire in the Eastern Pacific.
Last December, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, an international body that regulates commercial fishing from Indonesia to Hawaii, concluded the bigeye catch must be slashed 30 percent in its waters.
To do their share, the 130 boats in the Hawaii-based longline fishing fleet must slice their bigeye yield by 10 percent compared to what they caught in 2004. That means they're only allowed to take 3,763 metric tons in 2009. As of early November, they had already caught 3,119 metric tons.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is monitoring the fleet's logbooks to keep track, said Tom Graham, a fisheries policy analyst with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu. The agency will give fishermen seven days notice before it prohibits taking more bigeye, Graham said.
Hawaii's longliners hope to limit any market upheaval by staggering their return to port once the fishery is closed, said Sean Martin, Hawaii Longline Association president. This will prevent all their tuna from landing on the market all at once.
"Coordinating fishermen is kind of like herding cats. But we're trying to coordinate our production side to continue to provide some consistency to the supply," said Martin, whose company POP Fishing & Marine operates five longline boats.
Martin noted longliners will still be allowed to fish in waters east of Hawaii, an area governed by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. The Hawaii-based fleet's annual catch limit in this area is 500 metric tons this year and it's not close to being met.
Handline fishermen may also continue to fish in waters west of Hawaii.
Traders will likely try to fill any supply gaps by importing bigeye from outside Hawaii. Many locals, however, prefer the ahi caught by the Hawaii-based fleet because the fish isn't treated with carbon monoxide to preserve its color like some of the fish delivered by air freight.
"We need the local longline caught fish. That's what a lot of Hawaii wants," said Guy Tamashiro, vice president of Tamashiro Market. Meanwhile, he's hoping for the best come New Year's Eve.
"I got my toes crossed, too," he said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Italian police arrest 2 linked to Mumbai attacks AP - Sunday, November 22
NC man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare AP - Sunday, November 22
McCain links political correctness to shootings AP - Sunday, November 22
Mental health cases tax police, emergency workers AP - Sunday, November 22
59 and counting: Health care bill nears test vote AP - 1 hour 39 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Obama health drive faces critical vote
Putin backs Medvedev's call for Russia modernisation
First Air France A380 reaches New York
CERN atom-smasher restarts after 14-month hiatus: official
Crisis fallout still in 'first half': forum
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
First Air France A380 reaches New York
CERN atom-smasher restarts after 14-month hiatus: official
Dubai growing at five percent pace: economy tsar
Crisis fallout still in 'first half': forum
Giant atom-smasher poised for restart: CERN
More Most Viewed »
Alcohol helps cut heart disease risk for men: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 22 November 2009 Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear sites
Putin backs Medvedev's call for Russia modernisation
Obama health drive faces critical vote
Iraq parliament struggles over elusive vote deal
Sri Lanka to open refugee camps ahead of polls
| International
|
Sri Lanka to release 136,000 Tamil war refugees
EPA: Uranium from polluted mine in Nev. wells
Rocket hits outside luxury hotel in Afghan capital
NC man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare
Australia issues 'catastrophic' alerts as fires rage
59 and counting: Health care bill nears test vote
Afghan road builder's dream thwarted by violence
Chicago losing glitz when Winfrey goes off the air
China says 42 dead, 66 trapped in mine explosion
Hawaii anxiously watching year-end tuna supply
Atlantis astronauts take 2nd spacewalk of mission
Security forces: Blast near Kabul's Serena Hotel
AP reporter caught up in Stalin family's agony
3 men blow themselves up in Pakistani Kashmir
Italy arrests Pakistanis suspected of Mumbai links
Terror trials differ in civilian, military courts
Elderly US couple pleads guilty in Cuba spy case
Twilight sequel sets new opening-day record
| Entertainment
|
Singer Robbie Williams to court investors: report
| Entertainment
|
Singer Robbie Williams to court investors: report
"Twilight" sequel sets new opening-day record
Losing Winfrey would be big blow for Second City
German auction house pulls disputed painting
Michael Jackson glove among items at music auction
Israel-Palestinian conflict kills 8,900 in 20yrs: NGO
EU recession over, but sharp contrasts in east
Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear facilities
| International
|
American Express takes aim at PayPal with Revolution
Israeli aircraft strike tunnels, arms factories
Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts
Anglican leader, pope meet amid tensions
China mine explosion death toll reaches 87
| International
|
Austrian sets up online cattle auctions
US 'helps build anti-Taliban militias' in Afghanistan
Colombia's Uribe seeks to ease Venezuela tensions
| International
|
Belgian ex-premier meets party chiefs as hunt begins for new PM
Israeli planes strike targets in Gaza
W.Sahara activist refuses Madrid offer of refugee status
Israeli planes strike targets in Gaza
| International
|
Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear facilities
Pressure for progress at talks on rebel Karabakh
| International
|
Rhodes Scholars named for 2010
Atheist student groups flower on college campuses
2nd autopsy for Malaysian opposition aide: lawyer
Indonesian ferry with over 200 people sinks: police
UC Santa Cruz protesters still occupy building
Biden says Senate handed Obama a big victory
Death toll in China mine disaster rises to 87: media
Groth to play tennis for Australia after citizenship
Passenger charged in fatal stabbing on NYC subway
N.Korean leader inspects security forces
Healthcare bill passes first U.S. Senate test
Korean death row inmate dies after suicide attempt
Obama health drive clears key Senate hurdle
Motown caps 50th anniversary with hometown gala
Mumbai still vulnerable 1 year after terror attack
4 injured in San Francisco cable car accident
Malaysian activist's body exhumed for 2nd autopsy
Separated twins beat the odds
Japanese temple resorts to manga to woo visitors
Top S.Korea think-tank sees 2010 GDP at 8-yr high
South Koreans to get Apple's iPhone this week
IPhone to go on sale in South Korea
Jackson's glove sells for $350,000 at auction
| Entertainment
|
Crisis forcing hard-up Spaniards to sell their hair
Desperate retailers seek holiday season rescue
Motown caps 50th anniversary with hometown gala
International Emmys to honor David Frost
Botswana tries spicy solution to keep elephants at bay
Developing: Senate Democrats Secure Votes To Prevent Republican Healthcare Filibuster
Jacko 'moonwalk' glove sells for 350,000 dollars
Mobile Home Fire Kills 5 In Central Florida
Sarandon gets lifetime achievement award at Stockholm film fest
Smiling on Facebook costs Canadian her insurance
French designer wolfs down US doggy rags
Pope in landmark meeting with artists in Sistine Chapel
Anesthetic Spray Seen As Cure For Premature Ejaculation
U.S. Customs Agents Arrest Man With 15 Lizards Strapped To Body
Thousands Of Bongs Seized in Los Angeles
Georgia Plans To Lay Bulldog Mascot To Rest
Albinos In Africa Being Hunted For Their Human Body Parts To Be Used In Witchraft Concoctions
Iran releases ex-official on bail in mass trial
Crisis forcing hard-up Spaniards to sell their hair
Israeli president plays down settlement work
| International
|
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail
Iraqi parliament fails to reach election deal
| International
|
Former Iran VP released on bail
Overloaded Indonesian ferry sinks; 4 dead, most survive
| International
|
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail: report
| International
|
Ahmadinejad heads to nuclear-backers Brazil, Venezuela
Alleged Iraq bombers offer confessions
Pirates hijack Greek-owned bulk carrier off Yemen
| International
|
Bomb blasts kill six, wound 40 in India's northeast
| International
|
Israeli president to Egypt for talks with Mubarak
Militants could be invited to Afghan Jirga
| International
|
Ahmadinejad leaves for tour including Brazil, Venezuela
Khmer Rouge prison chief anxious as trial ends
Indonesian ferry sinks; 9 dead, some 230 rescued
CORRECTS RI Bishop-Kennedy
AP NewsAlert
Overloaded Indonesian ferry sinks; 4 dead, most survive
South Korea mass murderer hangs himself in cell
Police identify gunman in deadly Saipan rampage
2 bomb blasts leave 7 dead, 52 wounded in India
Indonesian passenger ferry sinks with 242 aboard
Bomb blasts kill six, wound 40 in India's northeast
Suspected pirates kidnap 3 crewmen in Philippines
Afghan official: 5 border security guards killed
India's Reliance announces bid for LyondellBasell
China could grow 10 pct in fourth quarter: report
AirAsia to tap Southeast Asian capital market
Report: Indonesian passenger ferry sinks with 228
Beirut sets out to woo back shoppers
Pistols, Tasers, assault rifles sell fast at US show
Jackson's glove sells for $350,000 at auction
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
UC Students Protest Tuition Hike
Taliban suffocate Pakistan Buddhist heritage
Man Stabbed To Death After Argument Over NYC Subway Seat
Senior U.S. Special Operations Commander Makes Security Visit To Bangladesh
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights