MEDIA RELEASE

With Hawaii’s humpback whale season underway, NOAA is reminding boaters and other ocean users to stay safe and legal.

Endangered humpback whales are protected in Hawaii. If you’re on or in the water and whales are in the vicinity, federal regulations require you stay at least 100 yards away from them, and 1,000 feet away when operating an aircraft.

The “approach” regulations apply to all ocean users – power boaters, sailors, jet skiers, kayakers, paddlers, windsurfers, swimmers, divers – throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

“Everyone must be particularly cautious during whale season,” said Naomi McIntosh, superintendent, Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. “If a humpback whale is sighted, you’re advised to stay well outside the 100-yard approach area. Keeping your speed down is also very important in helping us protect these animals.”

In the last two years, NOAA reported 12 cases involving violations of humpback whale approach zone regulations, including approaches by swimmers, non-motorized watercraft, and motorized watercraft.

In a recent case, a commercial whale watch vessel was charged with violating the approach regulation on five separate occasions.

The case was settled in court on Maui when the owner and operator admitted all the violations charged and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $30,000.  Humpback whale approach zone violations should be reported to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement at 1-800-853-1964.

Humpback whale season in Hawaii generally runs from November through May, and as many as 10,000 humpback whales winter in the state’s waters. These acrobatic, 45-ton marine mammals attract wildlife enthusiasts, but they also pose safety hazards to boaters.

Vessel-whale collisions occur every year in Hawaii and are a serious threat to boaters and whales. Ocean users are also subject to safety risks when whales surface, breach, or slap their massive tails or flippers.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created by Congress in 1992 to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaii. The sanctuary, which lies within the shallow (less than 600 feet), warm waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands, constitutes one of the world’s most important humpback whale habitats.

The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

— Find out more:

www.noaa.gov

hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

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The West Hawaii Fisheries Council (WHFC), a community-based marine advisory organization, hosts its regular monthly meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club at Honokohau Harbor.

The October meeting will have a presentation from members who attended the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force meeting in Honolulu. The council will also be asked to assist is the creation of a 10-year plan for mooring buoys.

There are eight committees which include a Committee of the Whole to track recommendations of the WHFC with the Division of Aquatic Resources, a division of DLNR; another mandated by Act 306: one on moorings to ensure maintenance of the existing moorings and evaluate new sites and another on a ‘no take’ initiative; committees on government affairs, aquaculture; community fisheries education and outreach (which conducts the monthly Kawaihae Local Resource Council meetings); and membership.

The West Hawaii Fisheries Council is always seeking new members to sustain their broad scope. All of the interested ocean community is cordially invited to attend Council meetings on the third Thursday of every month or to join one of the Council committees.

Applications to join the Council can be picked up at the Kona/Honokohau Division of Aquatic Resources office at Honokohau Harbor or from a member of the council.

The mission of the West Hawaii Fisheries Council is to “manage fishery activities to ensure sustainability, enhances nearshore resources, minimizes resource depletion and manages conflicts of use.”

For more information, contact Marni Herkes at 987 2171 or marnih@hawaiiantel.net.

MEDIA RELEASE

Thank you Chairwoman Bordallo, Ranking Member Brown and other members of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife for convening this hearing at such an important juncture, and for inviting me to testify. My name is George Leonard and I direct Ocean Conservancy’s Aquaculture Program. I have a Ph. D. in marine ecology and evolutionary biology. For a decade I have worked to protect the long-term health of our oceans by identifying a viable, environmentally responsible seafood supply that is critical to America’s environmental and economic strength.

A healthy ocean and a healthy seafood industry are critical to America’s environmental and economic strength. Based on my assessment of the scientific literature and recent policy developments, it is my conclusion that the development of an unregulated offshore aquaculture industry in U.S. federal waters presents an imminent threat to ocean and seafood health that Congress cannot ignore. 

I strongly believe this committee must be responsive to recent developments and work to establish a comprehensive federal permitting and regulatory system for offshore aquaculture before an unregulated industry takes hold. Such a system must create a precautionary framework to ensure that any open-ocean aquaculture in the U.S. avoids the adverse impacts on marine ecosystems, human health and coastal communities that have accompanied the industry’s development elsewhere.

OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE: DEMAND AND RISK

Securing a safe and sustainable food supply for an increasingly hungry planet is one of the world’s biggest challenges. Fish provides an important source of protein. But, as the globe’s appetite for seafood has grown, traditional wild-capture fisheries have been unable to keep up. Overall, 80 percent of the world fish stocks for which assessment data are available are reported as fully exploited or overexploited and are thus unable to withstand additional fishing pressure. Driven in part by the decline of wild fish, aquaculture is expanding rapidly worldwide. It now provides nearly half of the world’s supply of seafood. It is the fastest growing sector of the food economy. Nearly 400 species are farmed around the world.

Much of the world’s farmed fish are herbivores, often raised in closed containment systems, posing limited environmental risks. However, a smaller but rapidly growing sector includes species high in the food chain, grown in large net pens in ocean waters. These farms pose much larger threats to the ocean in part because net pens are open systems through which water flows freely, directly affecting the surrounding ecosystem. 

At present the United States is a relatively small contributor to global aquaculture production. However, some in industry and government are seeking to foster the growth of domestic open-ocean aquaculture; and recent developments in California and the Gulf of Mexico have pushed that goal far closer to reality.

To date, advocates for domestic open-ocean aquaculture have paid insufficient attention to the significant risks that would accompany the growth of such an industry. A large body of peer-reviewed scientific literature has identified a host of environmental risks and impacts that accompany the farming of fish in open net pen systems. International experience also presents us with a cautionary tale that we ignore at our peril. While much of our understanding to date comes from salmon farming, data from other farmed species suggest these risks are universal and likely to apply to cod, halibut, sablefish, tuna and other species that could be raised in U.S. waters. 

However, if we proceed with caution, placing a high priority on the protection of wild fish and ecosystems, and let science-based principles guide us, open-ocean aquaculture may be able to play a role in responsible U.S. seafood production. But if done without proper protections in place, open-ocean aquaculture is likely to have serious adverse consequences for human health, ocean ecosystems and coastal communities.

I would welcome the opportunity to share with the committee a detailed scientific assessment of these risks. A large body of peer reviewed scientific research has been published on many of the impacts of aquaculture, including the severe environmental and socioeconomic consequences that have stemmed from developing an industry without proper precautions in place. Below, I summarize the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of primary concern:

Escapes: Aquaculture is known to be a major vector for exotic species introduction, causing concern over the ecological impacts that escaped species can have on wild species. Whether they are native or exotic, escaped farmed fish can negatively impact the environment and wild populations of fish. For example, it is well known that farmed salmon regularly escape from net pens, negatively impacting wild salmon through competition and interbreeding.

Diseases and Parasites: It is well documented that intensive fish culture, particularly of non-native species, has been involved in the introduction and/or amplification of pathogens and disease in wild fish populations. The most striking example concerns the dramatic consequences of the spread of parasitic sea lice from salmon farms to wild salmon but disease outbreaks in other fish grown in open net pens around the world appear to be common as well.

Nutrient and Habitat Impacts: By design, wastes from open net pen systems are released untreated directly into nearby bodies of water, and this can have negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Dissolved nutrients (from excess feed as well as fish excretion) flow freely beyond the farm site while particulate matter often settles directly to the bottom where it can substantially alter both the chemistry and biodiversity of the farm’s benthic habitats. New and emerging science suggests the adage “dilution is the solution to pollution” in open ocean-environments is an oversimplification and not justified by science.

Impacts on Predator Populations: The presence of large numbers of captive fish held in high density naturally attracts predators such as birds, sharks and marine mammals. Techniques to keep some of these predators at bay often impact their natural behavior and pose entanglement and drowning risks. Some predators that have become habituated to the presence of net pens, and hence a threat to human safety, have been killed by fish farmers.

Impacts of Drugs and Chemicals: Aquaculture often uses a variety of chemicals including antibiotics, pesticides, fungcides, and antifoulants. In some aquaculture systems, use of antibiotics has resulted in bacterial resistance in the environment and influenced antibiotic resistance in humans. Probable human carcinogens in fish feed (most notably PCBs, dioxins, and other organohalogens) have been shown to result in potentially unsafe concentrations in high trophic-level farmed fish. Dietary guidelines recommend limited human consumption to avoid deleterious health effects.

Increased Fishing Pressure on Wild Fish Stocks: Feed for many of the “carnivorous” species likely to be farmed in open-ocean environments contains very high percentages of fishmeal and fish oil derived from wild-caught forage fish. As a result, these species consume two to five times as much wild fish as they produce in farmed product. As global aquaculture has grown dramatically over the past two decades, the total demand for fishmeal and fish oil for use in aquaculture feeds has expanded. If the farming of carnivorous fish continues to grow at its current rate, the demand for fish oil will outstrip world supply within a decade, while a similar result is expected for fish meal by 2050. This will likely impose additional pressure on wild forage fish stocks with the potential to undermine marine food webs by removing key prey species on which economically and environmentally important wild species depend. Separating fish farming from its reliance on wild fish must occur if aquaculture is to be considered a sustainable means to increase seafood supply.

Socioeconomic Impact on Fishermen and Fishing-Dependent Communities: Beyond the environmental risks and human health issues, it is well known that farmed fish compete with wild fish in the marketplace. The increase in farmed salmon in the late 1990’s drove down the price of wild salmon to levels that made it difficult for fishermen to stay in business. While price declines may be good for consumers, they can have a range of direct and indirect negative environmental and economic impacts, including industry consolidation, overproduction and elevated fishing pressure on wild fish stocks to compensate for reduced profit margins.

A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Despite these real and scientifically-documented risks, the United States appears to be on the verge of an expansion of this new industry into its federal waters before Congress has a chance to act, and without a national framework in place.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the previous administration contorted the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to justify the development of a legally-dubious (and oxymoronic) “Aquaculture Fishery Management Plan” (FMP) through the Gulf Fishery Management Council. This plan would dramatically expand open-ocean aquaculture in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Last week, the Secretary of Commerce refused to take definitive action on the FMP, giving tacit approval to the plan. But Congress designed the MSA to regulate the capture of wild fish, not to create and regulate fish farming. The MSA includes neither the key safeguards nor regulatory tools and approaches necessary to ensure that aquaculture is developed and managed to be ecologically sustainable. Furthermore, this piecemeal approach entirely bypasses the high-level consideration of serious policy questions relating to open-ocean aquaculture that is needed before the Nation decides how to proceed.

Meanwhile in California, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute has announced plans to build the first-ever fish farm in federal waters, located west of San Diego. This facility, slated to occupy a space equivalent to 300 football fields, is going through an ad hoc regulatory approval process that includes a patchwork of permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and state agencies. Because of the disjointed, overlapping and confusing federal regulatory landscape, no single agency would be responsible for the entire environmental and socioeconomic performance of this project.

Plans are also afoot in Hawaii state waters, which, if approved, could pave the way for additional development in offshore waters. Hawaii Ocean Technology is presently seeking permits to develop a massive deep-water fish farm that would hover just below the ocean surface in nearly 3000 feet of water. Unlike existing technology, the farm would not be attached to the bottom but instead hover in the water column. Should it prove technologically feasible, this would open the door for fish farms to move farther into the federal EEZ.

In all of these cases, what is missing is a national framework that codifies consistent, national expectations for this nascent industry. Most importantly, there is no mechanism for monitoring and addressing the cumulative impacts of the industry, which could be far greater than the sum of any individual facilities’ impacts. Until today, Congress has not significantly considered the consequences of these industry developments, and no bill has yet been introduced in the 111th Congress that would seek to regulate the industry before it takes hold.

What is clear is that legislation is urgently needed in advance of industry development. If decisive action is not taken by Congress soon, open-ocean aquaculture will likely emerge in federal waters in a piecemeal fashion, without Congress establishing a legislative framework and without the most basic standardized protections in place.

PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION

A key starting point for development of a strong, precautionary bill should be the recommendations of the high-level commissions and advisory bodies that have already examined this issue. Most notable of these are the Pew Oceans Commission (2003), the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (2004), and the Marine Aquaculture Task Force (2007). Provisions should also draw heavily on California’s Sustainable Oceans Act (SB 201), currently the most comprehensive law in the U.S. on marine aquaculture. SB 201 contains many of the environmental, socioeconomic and liability provisions necessary to protect marine ecosystems yet allow a responsible industry to develop. It is a good model upon which to build an environmentally sound and socially responsible national framework.

GOVERNANCE AND AUTHORITY

To ensure aquaculture development in offshore waters is ecologically sustainable, federal legislation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. aquaculture industry must all adopt a precautionary approach, combined with adaptive management, as their guiding principles. Federal legislation should assign NOAA the lead role and responsibility in the environmental evaluation, planning, siting, permitting and regulation of aquaculture in federal waters. As the primary regulatory agency, NOAA should be authorized to require removal of fish stocks, closure of facilities, revocation of permits, imposition of penalties, and other appropriate remedial measures. This power should be exercised where a permitee is not in compliance with national standards; where the permitee’s activities have damaged, are damaging or are likely to damage the marine environment in the foreseeable future; or where the permitee is not in compliance with permit requirements. NOAA should be empowered to take immediate remedial action to avoid or eliminate damage—or the threat of damage—to the marine environment.

NATIONAL STANDARDS

Federal legislation must set legally-binding national standards that prioritizes the protection of wild fish, associated habitats and functional marine ecosystems. They must ensure that offshore aquaculture poses negligible risks to fisheries, marine wildlife, and the ecosystems on which they depend; protects the long-term public interest in healthy marine ecosystems (including conserving genetic diversity and the integrity of aquatic ecosystems); incorporates appropriate public input; and develops in an orderly manner.

National standards should include specific management objectives, including measurable performance standards and identification of how impacts are to be assessed, monitored and addressed. For maximum effectiveness, standards should be structured to reward facilities for performance beyond minimum requirements, and must include significant penalties for facilities that fall short.

BROODSTOCK MANAGEMENT AND FISH ESCAPES

Federal legislation should mandate that offshore aquaculture be limited to native species of the genotype native to the geographic region of the fish farm. Hatchery-raised fish, derived from native species, must be cultured in a manner that ensures that any fish escapes will not harm the genetics of local wild fish. To do so, stocked fish should be no more than two generations removed from the relevant wild stock, and have been exposed to no intentional selective breeding. Species of special concern or those of protected status under the Endangered Species Act should not be cultured. Furthermore, “ranching”, a farming practice where wild juvenile fish are caught and fattened before being sent to market, should be banned.

All facilities and operations must be designed, operated, and shown to be effective at preventing the escape of farmed fish into the marine environment and withstanding severe weather conditions and marine accidents. All farmed fish should be marked, tagged, or otherwise identified as belonging to the permitee. To the extent systems fail and escapes occur, facility operators must document such escapes and the circumstances surrounding them, report them immediately to NOAA and maintain publicly available records of such events.

DISEASE AND PATHOGEN PREVENTION

Legislation should require NOAA, as the lead federal agency, to develop and implement risk-averse management regulations to prevent ecosystem impacts from disease and pathogen amplification and retransmission. Individual permitting decisions must be informed by an analysis of reported industry-wide, on-farm disease and pathogen data as well as a scientific understanding of disease and pathogen distribution in the wild.

Legislation should mandate that offshore aquaculture facilities be designed, located and operated to minimize the incubation and spread of disease and pathogens without relying on the use of antibiotics, pesticides or other harmful chemicals. However, should chemical treatments be required and multiple treatment options exist, legislation should require that the one with the least environmental impact be used, and that such use be reported and records maintained that are publicly available. In all circumstances, the use of all drugs and chemicals—and amounts used and applied—must be minimized.

HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

Legislation should require aquaculture facilities to minimize nutrient discharge and ensure that resulting discharge does not negatively impact the local and regional environment. The use of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) where finfish, seaweeds and filter feeders or deposit feeders are grown in close proximity to limit the impact of nutrient inputs should be given a preference over facilities that grow only a single species of fish. Incentives should also be developed to encourage use of other technologies, such as closed-containment farming systems, that fully prevent nutrient discharge.

Legislation should also require that the EPA, in consultation with NOAA, establish numeric effluent limitations for aquaculture facilities operating in federal waters. Those limitations should meet water quality standards, and discharge permits should explicitly address cumulative and secondary impacts at the local and regional level.

INTERACTIONS WITH AND IMPACTS ON MARINE WILDLIFE

Legislation should require permitees to develop, and implement a comprehensive, integrated predator management plan that employs non-lethal deterrents. As part of this plan, performance metrics, best available technologies and site selection should be required to avoid entanglement, disruption of migration, and predator attraction or repulsion so as not to affect wildlife or their use of marine habitats. Underwater acoustic deterrent devices should not be permitted. Furthermore, fish farmers must not be allowed to intentionally kill predators of farmed fish unless human safety is under immediate threat.

USE OF WILD-CAUGHT FORAGE FISH FOR FEED

Wild caught fish ingredients should be used only if they are sourced from populations whose biomass is at or above that which yields optimal yield and from fisheries that are managed using explicit ecosystem-based management measures that take into account the need for a sufficient prey base within marine ocean food webs. Legislation should require that the use of fish meal and fish oil derived from fisheries not primarily intended for direct human consumption be minimized, and that alternatives to fish meal and fish oil (or fish meal and fish oil made from seafood harvesting byproducts) be used.

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

In keeping with a precautionary approach, federal legislation should require regional Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEIS) before committing to any individual project. These analyses should review existing scientific information, anticipate environmental impacts, and provide a region-specific framework for managing marine aquaculture in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Each PEIS should evaluate whether appropriate areas in the relevant region exist for aquaculture development and, if so, siting of marine finfish aquaculture operations appropriately within those areas to avoid adverse impacts on marine ecosystems and ocean user groups. Effects on marine ecosystems, sensitive ocean and coastal habitats, other plant and animal species, and human health should all be considered. Most importantly, the PEIS should evaluate the potential cumulative impacts of multiple facilities in the region, so that a regulatory regime can be developed in advance to avoid the cumulative impacts that only become evident with industry expansion.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE

Legislation should mandate that a comprehensive, ecologically-based research and development program be designed and supported by NOAA. The program should collect information necessary to ensure permitting and regulation of commercial operations are done in a precautionary manner, and ensure ecological sustainability and compatibility with healthy, functional ecosystems.

The research program should evaluate environmental conditions and operational practices that prevent overexploitation of forage fish and other harm to the structure and function of marine food webs; prevent the escape of farmed fish and resulting negative impacts on wild fish; prevent the incubation and spread of disease and parasites from farmed fish to wild fish without the use of drugs and chemicals; prevent nutrient discharge from impacting marine ecosystems; prevent negative impacts on predators and other wildlife; prevent cumulative environmental impacts of multiple offshore aquaculture facilities; and prevent negative impacts on fishermen and fishing-dependent communities.

The information obtained from this research program, along with the findings of the PEIS, should be regularly reviewed and incorporated into permitting and rulemaking decisions on an ongoing basis.

SITE AND OPERATING PERMITS FOR OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE

Legislation should direct NOAA to establish a full, meaningful, balanced and open process for siting and permitting decisions that provides ample opportunity for state, local and public stakeholder input. It should also mandate that decisions about siting and permitting give priority to the protection of the health of the marine environment in the face of uncertainty about effects on public resources. No permit should be issued if NOAA determines that doing so is contrary to the public interest.

Legislation should also require separate site and operating permits. To provide the long-term access to ocean space needed for capital investment, while simultaneously requiring more frequent review of environmental performance, the length of the site permit should be longer than the length of the operating permit. The initial term for site permits should not exceed 10 years while the initial term for operating permits should not exceed five years.

There should also be a legislative mandate that permits not interfere with existing fishing (including access to fish stocks and fishing grounds) or other uses or public trust values; disrupt wildlife and marine habitats; or alter marine ecosystems. Congress should require that permits not contribute to adverse cumulative environmental or socioeconomic impacts.

Legislation should require NOAA, in consultation with relevant state and federal agencies, to develop criteria for site permits, including: prohibition in sensitive habitats; proximity to other farms; proximity to other ocean users; site size; preliminary habitat and community assessment data; water conditions (e.g., depth, currents, and substrate type), and distribution of other species. Furthermore, it should mandate that the selection of sites be driven by the findings of the regional environmental analysis, and that the applicant demonstrate the site location is optimal to avoid adverse effects on ocean resources and users.

FEES, RESOURCE RENTS, FINANCIAL ASSURANCES AND LIABILITY

Fees for marine finfish aquaculture permits should, at a minimum, be sufficient to pay for the costs of administering the marine finfish permitting program, and for monitoring and enforcing the terms of the permits. In addition, a reasonable portion of the resource rent generated from marine aquaculture projects that use ocean resources held in public trust should be collected from aquaculture operators. Legislation should establish a fee structure to achieve this goal.

Legislation should also require that all structures be removed from the site at the permitee’s expense upon termination of operations, and that the area be restored to its original condition, if necessary. NOAA should be required to obtain financial assurances from each permitee to en

sure that structures are removed and any necessary restoration is performed.

Legislation should make operators of aquaculture facilities in federal waters liable for environmental damage, including damage from escaped fish, as well as costs for natural resource damage assessment caused by their operations. A citizen suit provision should be included as an additional means to enforce violations should federal agencies fail to do so.

ROLE OF REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT BODIES

Legislation should require NOAA and other federal agencies to consult with the regional fishery management councils, interstate fishery commissions, and First Nations on all matters related to open-ocean aquaculture. No commercial aquaculture facility should be permitted without approval from the fishery management body with jurisdiction in the area in which the aquaculture facility would be located. Where more than one fishery management body has authority, both bodies should be required to work together to resolve how to proceed with open ocean aquaculture. Aquaculture development should not interfere with access to traditional fishing grounds or access to recreational or commercial fish stocks.

FEDERAL AND STATE CONSISTENCY

Legislation must give states and territories the authority to “opt out” of aquaculture development in federal waters adjacent to their state waters. If one state decides to “opt out” but a neighboring state does not, states should be required to work together to resolve how to proceed. There should be a requirement that any resulting permits be consistent with authorized Coastal Zone Management Plans. Finally, permitting of offshore aquaculture facilities should be integrated with any federal marine spatial planning efforts.

CONCLUSION

Now is the time for strong leadership from Congress on the future of open-ocean aquaculture in the United States. If Congress fails to act, an unregulated industry is likely to develop, and the environmental consequences could be severe. But with bold action, this committee can play a central role in crafting the legislative framework that will ensure strong protection of U.S. federal waters, and an environmentally and economically responsible industry.

Congress has a unique opportunity and a public responsibility – to craft a national vision that will foster “a race to the top,” precisely at a time when past missteps by other countries have created a “race to the bottom” that they have come to regret. This is no more evident than in Chile, a country that until recently was the world’s largest producer of farmed salmon. Without a sufficiently precautionary national plan, Chile increased its production of farmed Atlantic salmon by 2,200% from 1991 to 2006. But by 2007, with too many farms located too close together, disease began to spread rapidly through the industry. 

Just two years later, there has been over a 50% decline in salmon production and revenue for the industry and over 7,500 direct jobs have been lost. Only after the salmon industry was decimated by the spread of this disease did Chilean authorities take the first steps toward developing a national framework to manage farms via “neighborhoods” to break the disease cycle by limiting both farm-level and regional fish production. If they had approached the development of the salmon farming industry more cautiously from the beginning they may have averted this calamity.

Here in the United States, Congress must articulate a precautionary national framework now, before industry development, to ensure protection of the ocean, ocean users – and fish farming businesses – from the ravages that Chile has experienced.

Doing anything less is a gamble with our oceans that we simply should not take.

The largest marlin of the 2009 Maui Jim Series so far is an 827-pound monster caught by Che Garcia on board “Pacific Blue.” (Photo courtsey of Maui Jim Series)

MEDIA RELEASE

After a “seven inning stretch” that lasted a few weeks, the final two events in the 2009 Maui Jim Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series are on tap for the last two weekends of August. 

Starting in late June and running through mid-July, the first four events of the Maui Jim Series fielded 155 teams competing for more than $702,000 in prize money, and, trips to such exotic locations as the Galapagos Islands and Panama. Always popular prizes are free pairs of Maui Jim Sunglasses. 

So far, teams have caught 65 blue marlin of which 56 were tagged and released. The fishing has only gotten hotter during the break, and boats along the Kona Coast are reporting from five to eight marlin bites a day – every day! 

One Maui Jim Series “regular” participant – Jack Sanford – is returning all the way from Qatar, where he is an oil drilling contract specialist. Others have come from a span from New Zealand to across the U.S. mainland. 

Also returning is celebrity chef Sam Choy. Choy has two boys who are professional charter boat fishermen, and he knows first-hand how important the tournament industry is to the economy of the Big Island. 

Choy lends his name and culinary skills to the marquee at the Awards Banquet of the 2nd Annual Lazy Marlin Hunt.  

The Lazy Marlin was named after every anglers dream – a marlin more than 800 pounds that is such a behemoth the movements of its huge body look slow and lazy – even when flashing in and dealing a devastating blow to tuna or lure. 

The largest marlin of the 2009 Maui Jim Series to date, is an 827 pound monster caught by Che Garcia on board “Pacific Blue.” Garcia and company earned $66,330 for their catch. 

Although this is the largest marlin so far this year, Team “Pacific Blue” may have caught the biggest marlin, but they are not the biggest money winner to date. 

Jack Sampson has claimed the title of highest money winner so far in the Series. Sampson and the crew on his boat High Flier walked off with a check for $156,945 – one of the highest single payouts in the history of big game fishing in Hawaii. 

The Big Island Marlin Tournament was the first high stakes event to pay cash purse for tag and release of marlin. 

The tournaments have also been supporting the marine science efforts of the University of Hawaii/JIMAR/NMFS scientists for many years through the deployment of pop up satellite archival tags on marlin. 

These mini-computers are attached to marlin that are released back into the open ocean, and the devices archive various scientific observations over a set time. 

When the time is up, the devices cut themselves free from the marlin and float to the surface where they transmit their archived data to a satellite, which then transmits it to the lab of Dr. Michael Musyl in Honolulu. 

To see where marlin go, and what they do after released – log on to www.konatournaments.com and click the “SCIENCE” tab.  

On the Web site, anglers and teams can also find entry forms for the final two tournaments of the season – the Big Island Marlin Tournament (Aug. 21- 23) and the Lazy Marlin Hunt (Aug. 29 & 30). 

Anyone can enter and there is no experience necessary – many anglers have caught the first marlin of their life at a Maui Jim Series tournament. 

For more information on the Big Island Marlin Tournament and/or the Lazy Marlin Hunt, contact Jody Bright at 557-0908 or jody@konatournaments.com. 

All the information on the Maui Jim Series 2009 – and past years – is also available at www.konatournaments.com. 

Coverage of The Maui Jim Series can be seen on the national network VERSUS, starting in January 2010. The television coverage is made possible through the support of Maui Jim Sunglasses and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Kihachiro and Tetsuzo Suzuki pose for their championship photo with Miss Billfish 2009 Andria DeBina after Friday final day of fishing. (Photo courtesy of Current Events)

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Last week the Emperor and Empress of Japan paid an official visit to Kona. This week, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope of Japan captured the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) championship, beating out Old South Marlin Club #4 by 93 points. 

Third place honors went to Malibu Marlin Club. 

Skunked for the first two of five tournament fishing days, the father-son team Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope from Japan roared back mid-week. 

When the final fish count was tallied, angler Kihachiro Suzuki’s week-long catch of five Pacific blue marlin and one ahi (Yellowfin tuna) put them on top of the scoreboard. 

On Wednesday, Suzuki tagged two Pacific blue marlin. 

On Thursday, Suzuki tagged another Pacific Blue marlin plus he boated a Pacific blue marlin that weighed in on Kailua Pier at 332 pounds. 

By the end of HIBT fishing on Friday, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope tagged its final Pacific blue marlin estimated at 150 pounds.  

His complete joy transcended language. Speaking through an interpreter Suzuki said, “This is my second time here at the HIBT. It is so enjoyable. I came to Kona with a feeling that I would win and I am so happy!” 

Team Old South Marlin Club #4 of North Carolina rallied Friday with another tagged Pacific blue marlin, propelling them from fourth to second place. 

Malibu Marlin Club, the team that had held the top spot for three of the five days, finished in third place.  

“We want to extend a heartfelt mahalo to the entire Kona community for the warmth and aloha shared these past fifty years,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said.

Top Captain

David Bertuleit, captain of the 41-foot Kona Seafari, reeled in the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament’s coveted Henry Chee Award. 

The perpetual Henry Chee Award was established in 1965 to honor the charter boat captain upon whose vessel the most number of billfish points have been scored at HIBT. 

The award’s namesake, a pioneer marlin fisherman who set an unprecedented number of gamefish catch records, helped establish the Kona coast as a world-famous fishing destination. 

This is Bertuleit’s first Henry Chee Award. 

Anyone who knows Kona fishing knows the Parker name. Bertuleit started fishing for the late George Parker more than 20 years ago and more recently he fished with George’s sons – Randy and Marlin Parker. 

About 10 years ago, Bertuleit earned his captain’s license, took the Kona Seafari out of service for a year and rebuilt it. Since then, Bertuleit has fished nearly every HIBT. This year, he asked another legendary Kona captain, Tioni Judd, to come out of retirement to crew. 

“This was a great tournament because nearly every boat caught fish! But having Tioni fish with me was even better,” Bertuleit said. “It was all about teamwork.”  

About HIBT

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament welcomes teams to its 50th golden anniversary along side the State of Hawaii as it celebrates 50 years of statehood! Once again, the world meets here in Kona as enthusiastic anglers gather from around the world to fish these famous waters including Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the US including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

Kona Big Game Fishing Club-Miake, Japan. (Photo courtesy of Current Events)

MEDIA RELEASE

Four days into the five-day 50th anniversary Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and a mere 24 points separate Malibu Marlin Club from second place Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope of Japan.  

“Anything’s possible tomorrow,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said. “With more than 77 fish caught over the last four days, there is a whole lot of movement within the scoreboard.”  

Veteran team Old South Marlin Club #4 put serious points on the scoreboard by tagging three Pacific blue marlin, estimated at 150, 200 and 275 pounds. Fishing light 50-pound test tackle, anglers Lance Cleveland, Christian Amico and Glenn Garritano posted the first one-day team triple tag of the tournament this week.   

Thursday’s Weigh-Ins at Kailua Pier

In addition to a tagged and released Pacific blue marlin estimated at 275 pounds, Kona Game Fishing Club-Bellhope from Japan, fishing aboard Marlin Magic, also weighed in with a 332-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Laguna Niguel Billfish Club Team 2, fishing aboard Pacific Blue, weighed in a 430-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Fremantle Sailing Club A Team from Australia, fishing aboard Anxious, weighed in a 490-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

And Game Fishing Club of South Australia, fishing aboard Maggie Joe, weighed in a 331-pound Pacific blue marlin. 

Thirty-nine of the 41 teams competing have posted points on the official HIBT scoreboard. Teams are pinpointing strategies as they contemplate plans for Friday’s final day of fishing. With 77 fish caught through four days of tournament fishing, all HIBT anglers know the fish are out there. 

As of Thursday, three HIBT teams have entered the Great Marlin Race, deploying satellite tags on Pacific blue marlin and tracking their progress for 180 days. Barbara Block, Ph. D. and her graduate students/technicians from Stanford University assist participating teams and crews in deploying the satellite tags. 

The team whose Pacific blue marlin travels the farthest over 180 days will receive a free entry in the 2010 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. A true win-win for HIBT fishing and scientific research.  

Team Salty Reels In Fish Story of the Day

And they say cats have nine lives? 

At 10:30 this morning, Team Salty from Japan prepared to routinely tag and release an estimated 180-pound Pacific blue marlin. Imagine their surprise when they discovered the fish already sported a barnacle-clad tag. 

The crew aboard the Hookele, captained by Guy Terwilliger, was able to retrieve the older tag and attach the new HIBT tag without harming the fish. The captain will forward the tag to NOAA for further monitoring and research.  

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

HIBT founder Peter Fithian (right) congratulates Malibu Marlin Club angler Sam Spinello on his 567-pound catch Wednesday on Kailua Pier. (Photo courtesy of Current Events)

MEDIA RELEASE

Early in Day Three of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, the Aussies from Fremantle Sailing Club A Team fishing aboard Real Pleasure hooked-up just outside Kailua Bay. 

Veteran angler and team captain Mark Maher, an IGFA representative, fought the good fight for nearly six hours before losing the fish estimated in excess of 400 pounds.  

“It was about the same size as the Pacific blue marlin boated yesterday. Those 400-pounders are very active this week,” HIBT founder Peter Fithian said.   

Before the mid-morning radio round-up, one of three daily team call-ins, anglers had tagged and released 12 Pacific blue marlin. With six more hook-ups announced over the airways before noon, anglers representing enthusiastic teams from around the world were on high alert. 

All but five of the 41 teams have now posted points on the HIBT scoreboard.  

The big fish story of the day belongs to Malibu Marlin Club, fishing aboard the 53-foot Maggie Joe captained by Mike DeRego. 

Angler and team captain Sam Spinello boated a 567 pound Pacific blue marlin, propelling the team into first place. 

“This was a beautiful fish. For more than 70 percent of the fight, we saw her jumping and we chased her round and round,” DeRego said. “Sam is an incredible 74-year old angler.”  

Malibu Marlin Club hooked up in Uniform, the fishing area way south near Hookena. 

“This was another very strong, tough fish. We had the drag on as high as it could go and she still gave us a tremendous fight,” angler Sam Spinello said. “We had her to the back of the boat at least a dozen times! But she was up for the fight – she was well fed and in excellent physical condition. The captain and crew did an amazing job with boating the fish. What a day.” 

The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, July 24.    

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

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U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA work together to maintain buoys. (Photo courtesy of USGS)

MEDIA RELEASE

NOAA’s National Weather Service is asking the marine community to help safeguard its offshore buoys – which provide meteorologists with critical data for weather and tsunami forecasts – following a series of incidents where buoys were damaged or cut from their moorings. 

Since November 2008, three weather buoys around the Hawaiian Islands have been damaged, and several tsunami buoys around the Pacific Rim stopped transmitting data after severe weather or commercial ships broke the mooring lines.

Two weather buoys suffered serious damage and stopped sending data. 

A third weather buoy continues to transmit data but has drifted thousands of miles to the west because of a cut mooring line. NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard have repaired many of the buoys, and the remainder will be serviced as soon as ship schedules permit. 

“The damage could put communities at risk from severe weather and has been costly in terms of repairs and lost data,” said Jim Weyman, meteorologist-in-charge of the Honolulu Weather Forecast Office and director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “We ask the fishing, shipping and boating communities to help prevent additional losses which are an avoidable expense for taxpayers.” 

These data buoys are a vital part of the National Weather Service’s observation systems, providing wind speed and direction, wave height, pressure changes and other key data about marine conditions. Forecasters combine buoy data with information from satellites, radar and weather balloons to issue storm warnings and high surf advisories. 

Mariners can help protect these buoys by:

* Never boarding or tying up to a buoy;

* Never fishing around or under a buoy;

* Giving the buoy a wide berth to avoid entangling the mooring or other equipment suspended from the buoy – 500 yards for vessels which are trailing gear and at least 20 yards for all others 

Fishermen and other boaters can also help by reporting any of these activities or the sighting of damaged or drifting buoys to the U.S. Coast Guard at 808-535-3333.           

NOAA buoys are easy to identify. 

All are painted bright colors and imprinted with “NOAA” and the station number. Operated and maintained by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center , the buoys are continually monitored by an automated quality assurance program which immediately notifies technicians when data is lost. 

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. 

— Find out more:

Hawaii buoys real-time data interactive map: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/Hawaii.shtml

DART (tsunami) buoys real-time data interactive map: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/dart.shtml

Hawaii247.org photo by Karin Stanton)” width=”595″ height=”301″ />

Peter Fithian accepts the proclamation from Mayor Billy Kenoi. They are joined by Miss Billfish 2009 Andria DeBina. (Photo courtesy of HIBT)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

A surprise visit by Mayor Billy Kenoi at Tuesday afternoon’s weigh-in on Kailua pier created a stir. Kenoi recognized Peter Fithian’s 50 years of commitment to the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and proclaimed July 19-25 as Peter Fithian Week. 

“We need to celebrate this great tournament and the fame it has brought the Kona Coast,” Kenoi said. “This iconic event is an economic driver for our county and attracts visitors from around the world to our beautiful island. For that we are grateful to Peter and the HIBT.”  

Fithian was honored and surprised by the mayoral proclamation. 

“I am so very pleased that Mayor Kenoi has come here today. This tournament would not be possible without the support of the County of Hawaii. I want to say that I am honored to know that the County of Hawaii recognizes this grand tournament as an asset to the Kona community and its world-class fishing fleet.” 

Fithian joked that he would take full advantage of the honor.

“So I’m OK for a week around this town,” he said. “Tell the cops.”

The tournament is something of a Fithian family event. Wife Bobi, son Chip and daughter Marsha are working on Kailua Pier this week.

“What an honor for him. He’s worked so hard over the years. He really deserves this,” Chip said. “I’m a Kona boy and my love of fishing just came naturally. I love this tournament.”

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is celebrating its 50th golden anniversary this year.

Once again, the world meets in Kona as anglers gather from around the world to fish these famous waters including Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the U.S. including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

Hawaii247.org

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Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

Bob Lowe has fished the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament for 25 years, but he said he met his match Tuesday.

The 78-year-old angler from Lizard Island, Australia spent more than 3 hours wrestling with a 443-pound Pacific blue marlin during the second day of the competition.

Hawaii247.org

Lowe, aboard Kona Seafari, snagged the fish at 8:14 a.m. on 50-pound test line.

“That’s the toughest little fish I’ve ever seen in my life,” Lowe said, relaxing with teammates and a cold beer. “It’s only a little rat, just more than 400 pounds, but it was tougher than some 1,000-pounders I’ve caught.”

An Old South Marlin Club #2 teammate expressed his admiration for Lowe.

“This is the toughest S.O.B. you’ll meet,” he said. “Three and a half hours and he never broke a sweat. It would have made a younger man cry.”

As an Australian representative for the International Game Fish Association, Lowe knows fishing and has his share of catches under his belt including landing a 1,000-pounder in under an hour.    

And One Ahi

In other news, one ahi was also boated Tuesday. Another 23 billfish were tagged and released back to the sea throughout the day.  

Pajaro Valley Game Fish Club #1 had its first tag of the day just minutes into the competition. 

Team Malaka followed its second-fish-of-the-day habit with angler Phillip Duke tagging his estimated 150-pound Pacific blue marlin by 7:30 am. 

These important points earned Team Malaka its two-day lead.  

Old South Marlin Club #2, Malibu Marlin Club (2007 HIBT winners) and Bay of Islands Swordfish Club from New Zealand are close in the team standings.  

“This is really how the tournament functions best,” said HIBT founder Peter Fithian. “Lots of fish, the scoreboard always changing and most teams are seeing plenty of action.”  

Fishing continues through Friday, July 24.

—Find out more:

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com 

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Team Malaka celebrates putting points on the board after the first day at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. (Photo courtesy of HIBT)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

It’s usually all about the fishing at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Monday was no exception, with 16 Pacific blue marlin tagged and five short nose spearfish and three ahi tallied.

But there were some non-fishermen at the weigh-in on Kailua Pier, too.

One is tournament founder Peter Fithian.

“You know, I’ve never actually fished in this one,” he said. “It’s my job to see that everything is working smoothly, like a watch. I get the benefit of seeing everyone come to my hometown so it’s like a reunion of sorts.”

Fithian also enjoys showing off his hometown.

“Kona is generally regarded as a good place to visit whatever your reasons,” he said. “These gentlemen know the fishing is good, they know the water is good and they know it’s well organized.”

This year is special for Fithian because so many of his old friends returned for the 50th anniversary celebration.

“The British Isles team is back. It’s nice to have them,” Fithian said. “Shoalhaven is, too. They’ve been such great supporters of  this tournament over the years. And Sydney Game Fishing Club. And Fremantle Sailing Club. They sent two teams.”

This year’s anglers come from Australia, Bermuda, British Isles, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tahiti and representing teams from around the U.S. including California, Florida, Hawaii and North Carolina.   

“Fifty years ago New Zealand and Australia participated in the tournament allowing us to call ourselves an international tournament,” Fithian said. “We are so pleased to see many of our long-time tournament friends return to celebrate our golden anniversary.”

The Wives

Meanwhile, Becky Campos was congratulating her husband, Tony, captain of Pajaro Valley Game Fish Club #2.

The team managed to get on the scoreboard the first day of fishing.

“That’s huge. Dang, that’s the biggest deal,” she said. “We’re here to win it. Otherwise it’s just an expensive boat ride.”

The couple from Watsonville, Calif. have been coming to HIBT on and off for 35 years, she said, although Tony first fished in the tournament 40 years ago.

“It’s amazing that some of the boats are still here. We go all over to fish – Mexico and everywhere – but these captains really know these waters,” Campos said. “They are just as nice as they were 30 years ago and now we see some of their kids coming up so that’s cool.”

Campos said she appreciates the effort it takes to organize such a tournament.

“The volunteers here are just great. Some people forget that word: volunteer. Some people just take it for granted, but they really make the whole week happen,” she said. “And they don’t forget us ladies. While the men are out there, they find such fun and interesting stuff for us to do.”

Activities and excursions for anglers’ wives this year include a spa day, visits to area resorts and an ancient lei and haku making demonstration.

Day One

OK, back to the fishing. 

The tournament kicked off under clear, early morning skies as anglers acquainted themselves with Kona’s legendary fishing fleet, skilled captains, ocean conditions and rules of the tournament. 

By day’s end, 16 Pacific blue marlin were tagged, adding valuable team points to the scoreboard. 

Team Malaka was the first team to put points on the scoreboard. 

Angler Steve Gunther took little more than 17 minutes to tag his estimated 200-pound Pacific blue marlin on 50-pound test line. By noon, Team Malaka’s angler Tal Nizani tagged yet another Pacific blue marlin.  

“We tagged the final fish of last year’s 2008 HIBT and we’re very excited to tag the first fish this year,” Gunther said. “Our team is ready to be here in Kona to fish this great tournament.”

Every HIBT team is required at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. to call in its action, whether it be a strike, hook-up or caught, and the location of where they are fishing. 

At the end of the 41-team round-up, tournament radio control broadcasts the report, giving teams valuable information that helps with strategy.  

The five-day Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament continues through Friday, July 24.

Great Marlin Race

The inaugural Great Marlin Race is underway as part of the celebration of the 50th running of this prestigious tournament. 

Teams can purchase a satellite Pacific blue marlin tagging device, and once attached to the marlin, it will track the fish’s travels for about 180 days. The fish that travels the farthest wins the Great Marlin Race and its team will receive one free entry for up to six anglers in the 2010 HIBT, not including charter boat fees and travel expenses.  

The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament is underwritten by the generosity of the County of Hawaii and sponsored in part by Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner, KWXX Radio and numerous corporate and community donors. 

— Find out more:

 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

Laguna Niguel Billfish Club anglers pose with their big catch and Miss Billfish 2009. (Photo courtesy of HIBT)

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Bob Dudley, of Laguna Niguel Billfish Club #2, and the crew from Marlin Magic II pose with Dudley's big catch at the 2008 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. (Photo by Karin Stanton)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

The rods and reels are ready and you can bet the anglers are, too. Monday morning, nearly 50 teams will kick off the 50th anniversary of the top fishing tournament in the 50th state, which is also marking its 50th anniversary this year.

Forty-one teams from nine countries around the world are in the hunt for big fish and bragging rights at the 50th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

The five-day tourney starts at 7 a.m. Monday, July 20, with daily fish weigh-ins at 4 p.m. at Kailua Pier.

Fishing conditions look like they might favor the fishermen, with southern swells building all week and an early low tide.

The field includes anglers from Hawaii, California, Florida, North Carolina, Australia, Bermuda, Japan, New Zealand, Tahiti, Kenya, South Africa and the British Isles.

Banners welcome anglers from around the globe as the tournament approaches. (Photo courtesy of Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament)

Lester Legacy

Among the anglers this year are Rocky Franich, of the Pajaro Valley Game Fish Club, and Dan Lester, of the Monterey Bay Anglers.

Franich is fishing in his 47th HIBT, while Lester is at the Kona tournament for just the second time.

What is remarkable about these two men is that their fathers – Marty Franich and Ed Lester – fished with and against each other for years in the 1960s.

“They were great friends for many years,” Lester said. “I have old nostalgia photographs of them arriving in Kona, all dressed up in their suits and ties. It sure has changed.”

Lester said he’s pleased to finally understand what his father experienced.

“I used to run him to the airport to come here,” he said. “And it used to make me cry because I couldn’t go with him.”

The Lester legacy doesn’t stop there. Among Lester’s five children are Mark, who captained the team last year, and Sean, this year’s captain.

Additionally, a grandson, Jackson Armstrong, 16, will be a guest aboard the boat this week, bringing that to four generations of fishermen at HIBT.

“We’re introducing him this year and we’ll see where it goes,” Sean said.

An early introduction to fishing runs in the family. Dan said he and his father enjoyed fishing together, and his own sons soon took to the sport.

“Sean got most of his genes,” Dan said. “He’s the fisherman in the family, that’s for sure.”

Sean, a former professional sea captain, said just being at the Kona tournament is a tribute to his grandfather. 

“I was really bit early on fishing. I looked up to my grandfather as this monolith of the most ideal man, so I wanted to do everything like him,” Sean said. 

“He used to leave for Kona with a normal skin tone and come home all tan and with these great stories,” Sean said. “I couldn’t wait for him get home to tell us all about it. And I always wondered what color the hat would be this year, what would the patch look like.”

The third-generation Lester said it was a thrill just to be in the anglers’ briefing meeting Sunday.

“There were a couple of butterflies when I woke up this morning,” he said. “This is a room full of All-Stars. There’s a great respect for this tournament, it’s very prestigious. And it definitely has an emotional connection for me, all the way back to my childhood.”

They’re Back

* California’s Laguna Niguel Billfish Club No. 2 claimed the crown last year after Robert Dudley, a 64-year-old accountant, snagged a 973-pound Pacific blue marlin on the second day of the tournament and a 693-pounder two days later.

Dudley’s fish were the second and 11th largest caught in the history of the tournament.

Dudley is back to captain his team again this year.

* Alii Brothers Marlin Hui, with anglers from California and Hawaii, is captained by Buzz Colton.

Colton’s father fished in the first tournament and Colton, whose middle name is Alii, grew up assuming the main oceanfront Alii Drive was named for him.

“Fishing got in my blood through my dad and it never left. I have so many great memories from this tournament,” Colton said. 

One of his teammates is his brother Gary, a Catholic priest from Lahaina, Maui.

* Bay of Islands Swordfish Club of New Zealand is back this year. It was one of the two non-U.S. teams to compete in the first tournament – which allowed it to be a real, actual, true, for-sure international event.

* Blue Water Anglers Club of Bermuda is back for the first time since 2005. The club celebrated its own 50th anniversary last year.

* Sportfishing Club of the British Isles made its last appearance in 1979, but is returning to celebrate the milestone year.

* John Johnston, fishing with Game Fishing Club of South Australia, is the only man to have landed 1,000-pound specimens of marlin, tuna and shark.

“I think that just proves the point that you’ve been fishing for a long time,” he said.

Johnston also may be one of the few to leave something very important behind in Kona. During a previous tournament, he accidently got caught up in lines while trying to bag a marlin. The marlin won the day, managing to take the tip of Johnston’s thumb.

The angler holds no animosity, though. “It’s OK, I think it grew back.”

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The Tournament

Kona’s fishing reputation was built 50 years ago when Peter S. Fithian founded the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT). Since then, HIBT has earned its iconic status in big-game fishing tournaments and is known as the grandfather of all big game fishing tournaments. 

This invitational tournament is built upon honor, prestige and strict adherence to International Game Fish Association rules for world records.

There is no prize money and most of the catches are tagged and released.

The 2010 tournament is slated for July 31-Aug. 8.

The Hawaiian International Billfish Association founded a 501(c)3 scientific corporation to support research into the life cycle of the marlin. More than 65 scientific papers have been written by scientists with credit to the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation.

Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament: www.hibtfishing.com

The Teams

1 Laguna Niguel Billfish Club – Gil Kraemer Memorial Team, #1, California

2 Waianae Boat Fishing Club DH2, Hawaii

3 South African Barbarians, South Africa

4 Malibu Marlin Club, California

5 Laguna Niguel Billfish Club #2, California

6 Team Lantana, Florida

7 Old South Marlin Club #2, North Carolina

8 Port Moresby Game Fishing Club, Papua New Guinea

9 Team Ko’Olina (Private), Hawaii

10 Fremantle Sailing Club, A Team, Australia

11 Fremantle Sailing Club, B Team, Australia

12 Aussie Invaders – Perth, Australia

13 Team Outer Limit, Florida & South Africa

14 Team Malaka, California

15 Perth Game Fishing Club, Australia WITHDRAWN

16 Alii Brothers Marlin Hui, California/Hawaii

17 Whangaroa Game Fishing Club, New Zealand

18 Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club #1, California

19 Pajaro Valley Gamefish Club #2, California

20 New Britain Game Fishing Club, Papua New Guinea

21 Shoalhaven Game Fishing Club #1, Australia

22 Madang Game Fishing Club, Papua New Guinea

23 Bay of Islands Swordfish Club, New Zealand

24 Kona Game Fishing Club – Bellhope, Japan

25 Kona Game Fishing Club – Miake, Japan

26 Monterey Bay Anglers, California

27 Game Fishing Club of South Australia, Australia

28 Team Salty, Japan – Winners of the 30th JIBT, sponsored by JGFA

29 Hilton Grand Vacations Fishing Club-Japan, Japan

30 Haura Club de Tahiti, Tahiti

31 Mermaid Anglers Club (JGFA), Japan

32 South Africa Protea Team, South Africa

33 Olympian Dream Fishing Club, Japan

34 Hilo Yacht Club, Hawaii

35 Sportishng Club of British Isles, British Isles

36 International Game Fish Association, California

37 Tica Game Fishing Club – Japan, Japan

38 Blue Water Anglers Club, Bermuda

39 Old South Marlin Club #3, North Carolina

40 Old South Marlin Club #4, North Carolina

41 Sydney Game Fishing Club, Australia

42 Malindi Sea Fishing Club of Kenya, California

Schedule of Events

Sunday, July 19

8–9:30 a.m. – Official TEAM Registration and

8–10 a.m. – Registration for guest activities at HIBT Headquarters (King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel)

8 a.m.–4 p.m. – HIBT Boutique at HQ

10 a.m.–noon – HIBT Team Briefing and Boat Draw in hotel ballroom

12:30–1 p.m. – Guest activities briefing in hotel ballroom

5:30-9 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies & Meet The Teams Party at Hulihee Palace (ticket & badge required)

Monday, July 20

6:45 a.m. – Hawaiian Blessing on VHF radio

7 a.m.–4 p.m. – Day 1 – HIBT Fishing

9 a.m.–6 p.m. – HIBT Boutique at HQ & Pier

10 a.m. – Guests–Ancient lei & haku making demonstration

Daily Round-ups at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.

4 p.m. – Stop Fishing

4 p.m. – Weigh-ins at Kailua Pier

4–6 p.m. – “Shouting Room” at Kailua Pier (badge required)

Tuesday, July 21

7 a.m.–4 p.m. – Day 2 – HIBT Fishing

9 a.m.–6 p.m. – HIBT Boutique at HQ & Pier

8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Guests – Planned activity

Daily Round-ups at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.

4 p.m. – Stop Fishing

4 p.m. – Weigh-ins at Kailua Pier

4–6 p.m. – “Shouting Room” at Kailua Pier (badge required)

6-8  p.m. – NMFS presents 50 years with HIBT, Great Marlin Race details & drawing for 2010 entry

Wednesday, July 22

7 a.m.–4 p.m. – Day 3 – HIBT Fishing

8 a.m.–6 p.m. – HIBT Boutique at HQ & Pier

Guests: Free day

Daily Round-ups at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.

4 p.m. – Stop Fishing

4 p.m. – Weigh-ins at Kailua Pier

4–6 p.m. – “Shouting Room” at Kailua Pier (badge required)

Thursday, July 23

7 a.m.–4 p.m. – Day 4 – HIBT Fishing

8 a.m.-4 p.m. Guests: Trip to Kona Village Resort (reservations required)

9:00–6:00 HIBT Boutique @ HQ & Pier

Daily Round-ups at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.

4 p.m. – Stop Fishing

4 p.m. – Weigh-ins at Kailua Pier

4–6 p.m. – “Shouting Room” at Kailua Pier (badge required)

6-8 p.m. – Fisherman’s Forum hosted by WESTPAC – “Marlin on the Menu”

Friday, July 24

7 a.m.–4 p.m. – Day 5 – HIBT Fishing

8  a.m.–4 p.m. – Guests: Spa Day & No Host lunch (reservations required)

9 a.m.–6 p.m. – HIBT Boutique on Pier only

Daily Round-ups at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.

4 p.m. – Stop Fishing

4 p.m. – Weigh-ins at Kailua Pier

4–6 p.m. – “Shouting Room” at Kailua Pier (badge required)

6:30 p.m. – Southern Style BBQ Party presented by Old South Marlin Club – held at Kailua Pier (ticket and badge required)

Saturday, July 25

8 a.m. – Kendall Cup at Makalei Golf Course (reservations required)

8:30-9:30 a.m. – HIBT angler debriefing

Awards Dinner – Hilton Waikoloa Village – Monarchy Room

4 p.m. – Buses depart for Hilton Hotel

5 p.m. – Cocktail Reception & Crying Towel Awards

6:15 p.m. – Dinner Seating

7:30 p.m. – Awards Presentation

8:30 p.m. – Entertainment