The Ulua Tagging Project

The success of the Ulua Tagging Project has been attributed to the caring fishermen of Hawaii. Many have grown up on the ocean respecting this valuable resource as a source of food, recreation and survival. This respect and concern of our resources has come naturally for those born and raised in the islands. Surrounded by water fishermen have learned through culture and tradition to take care of their resource.

This same attitude has spilled over and is the main reason for the success of this project. It has now been almost 9 years since the Ulua Tagging Project went statewide. And the project numbers continue to grow and set new milestones. New anglers continue to join and more tagging data is gathered.  This valuable data will no doubt contribute to helping manage our fishery. 

The project itself has brought fishermen and communities closer together. By tagging fishermen have literally become stake holders in the resource. Tag and recovery data of ulua/papio traveling between islands has brought a different prospective and meaning to the term “sharing of our resources”. 

Tag and release has not only given us valuable data but tagging efforts alone by fishermen have helped conserve our valuable resource. Releasing a single ulua or maturing papio allows the fish to spawn and replenish the resource. With over 750 ulua and 34,000 papio tagged you can see how important tag and releasing can be to our resource. Now if each of those tagged fish spawned a million eggs, can you imagine what that would do to help sustain our resources! 

In 2008, thanks to the outstanding support of Hawaii’s fishermen for the tagging project. The DAR Ulua Tagging Project won the prestigious NOAA Sustainable Fisheries Leadership Award. The only award given in recognition for outstanding community based fisheries projects in the nation.  This award reflects the attitude of Hawaii’s fishermen and their caring of our resources. We would like to thank all the fishermen of Hawaii for their outstanding help and support. 

Below we want to share with you the views of a few participating anglers that sums up how some of the fishermen feel about the tagging project.

Fishermen’s Comments:

“Incorporating the DAR tagging project in our tournament helps gather valuable data and increase angler participation year round. I have noticed more and more anglers are changing their fishing habits and are conserving and tagging more, which is a plus for our fishing industry. The more we can support the tagging project the better it will be for generations to come.”

Michael Tokunaga – S. Tokunaga Store Inc./ Ulua Challenge Fishing Tournament, Hilo

Being a part of the Ulua Tagging Project feels good knowing that you can contribute to the enhancement of the near shore papio/ulua fishery.  “I also like to receive recapture notification; it’s like seeing your children growing up”.

Mark Gonsalves  - KMCB Volunteer Officer, Oahu

“I have gained much knowledge in the growth and migration of papio and ulua. I have a better understanding of the need to preserve this valuable resource.”

Glenn Oyamot – Avid fishermen, Kauai

“I also like the effort that the tagging staff makes in going out into the fishing community  to personally  get to know as many fishermen as possible, even fish with them, and not run the program by sitting in the office.”

Brian Funai – Fishing Historian, Oahu

“It is the first government related program that I can recall feeling good about its existence. I am happy my tax dollars are being used to fund this project. The fact that I can take part in information gathering and tagging aspects of the project, makes it that much more meaningful, valuable and important to me.  I think the program has helped and will continue to help all jack species. “

Dr. John Kurahara –  Fishermen, Oahu

”The Ulua Tagging Project has brought out people’s awareness and respect for our resources”. I have learned much about the individual L50’s for different jack species, which has helped determine sizes for release.

Capt. Clay Ching – Charter Captain, Molokai

“Through participation in the tagging project fishermen realize that they can make a difference about the status of our resources. Fishermen are more aware of the limits of the resources and keeping only what you need and releasing the rest is a good fishing practice. DAR’s best project!”

Paul Murakawa – Aquatic Biologist, Oahu

“I believe that the tagging project has really helped our resource by creating an incentive for anglers to release their catches rather than take them home. In my personal experience, without the tagging program, I would probably have kept more of the larger fish for eating. Since I started tagging I’ve caught 2 ulua and 91 papio, of these 2 ulua and 73 papio were all tagged.”

Nick Lawson – Kailua Fishermen, Oahu

 

“As a recreational fishermen tagging and releasing brings a whole new meaning, respect and feeling to fishing. I think once other fishermen get involved they will realize the benefits of taking only what you need and releasing the rest to fight another day. If the project continues good things will happen.”

Casey Paet – Ulua fishermen, Oahu