Hawaii's Future Fisheries: New Rules for Deepwater Shrimp and Precious Coral

You might care about this because the National Marine Fisheries Service, or NMFS, is suggesting new fishing rules for Hawaii. These rules cover deepwater shrimp and precious corals for the years 2026 through 2028. The main goal is to keep these fisheries healthy and available for a long time. The rules propose specific catch limits, called Annual Catch Limits or ACLs. They also include a way to respond if these limits are exceeded, which is called an Accountability Measure or AM. If the average catch over the past three years goes over an ACL, NMFS will lower that limit for the next fishing year. The important thing to know is that these proposed limits and measures are the same ones that have been in place for many years. Since 2012, fishers in Hawaii have not caught more than these limits for either deepwater shrimp or precious coral. This means the proposed rules are unlikely to change how fishing currently happens. NMFS is also making a small administrative update to officially record the AMs for precious corals, which was previously an oversight. They are asking for public comments on these proposed rules until August 24, 2026. What is particularly interesting about this document is how it shows a steady approach to managing ocean resources. The fact that the proposed catch limits have not changed since 2012 suggests that current fishing levels for deepwater shrimp and precious corals in Hawaii are well within sustainable boundaries. This indicates good management or very low fishing pressure. It is also interesting that the fisheries have very few active participants, with only a few permits issued each year. This means the rules directly affect a small group of people. The rule includes a 'housekeeping' change to formally add accountability measures for precious corals into the official rule book. This shows how government agencies work to ensure all parts of a regulation are properly documented, even if the practical impact on current fishing is small. The approach focuses on preventing overfishing in a consistent way, rather than reacting to an immediate problem. Several groups would be most interested in this legal document. First, commercial fishermen in Hawaii who hold permits for deepwater shrimp and precious corals will want to pay attention. Although the rules are not expected to change their current fishing practices, they are directly affected. Marine conservation organizations and environmental groups will find this important because it deals with the sustainability of ocean resources in Hawaii. Researchers and academics studying fishery management, marine biology, or environmental law in the Pacific region would also be interested. Government agencies, like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NMFS, use these rules to manage federal waters. Anyone involved in policy making related to ocean health or resource management in the U.S. Pacific Islands would also find this document relevant. Finally, local communities in Hawaii with an interest in their marine environment or fishing traditions might also want to review these proposed rules.