Perspectives on developing a non-commercial saltwater fishing license program in Hawaiʻi

Recreational (non-commercial) fishing licenses are used throughout the United States to contribute funding for the management of recreational fisheries and associated resources and help quantify participation. Non-commercial fishing license programs have aided habitat restoration and conservation, hatchery production, harvest regulations, education, and improving fishers overall experience and satisfaction with the resource. Contrastingly, Hawaiʻi is the only coastal US state that does not have a saltwater non-commercial fishing license program. The lack of a license program is problematic for several reasons, including its implications for baseline data regarding who or how many individuals utilize the resource. Given anecdotal information about recently changing fishers’ attitudes, the goal was to quantify knowledge, interest, and behavior of Hawaii's non-commercial fishing participants regarding the potential adoption of a state saltwater non-commercial fishing license. Specifically, under what circumstances would Hawaii's non-commercial fishing community support or not support a licensing program? Did the level of support and acceptance of a fishing license program vary with sociodemographic factors? Finally, what is an acceptable cost range for a license among Hawaii's non-commercial fishers? To answer these questions, an online survey of 101 self-identified non-commercial Hawai‘i fishers was conducted. The findings suggest that non-commercial fishers may support a fishing license program, but only if the funds generated from license fees are dedicated to improving the resource, particularly enforcement of current regulations. Correspondingly, a saltwater non-commercial fishing license costing between $11–19 was acceptable for 81% of survey participants. Our findings suggest provide a needed baseline on advancing fisheries management in Hawaiʻi.