Cooperative Research:
“Fisherman are part of the solution”
Shark Depredation Research
Shark Depredation has been a top concern of fishers across the Pacific Islands Region and fishers’ observations state that shark depredation of catch has been increasing over time. Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (PIFG) is working to identify traditional trends, current events, and potential ways to decrease shark-fisher interactions.
In 2025, PIFG received grant funding under NOAA’s Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program to conduct research on traditional practices of avoidance and mitigation of shark depredation. The work focuses on historical data, workshops, and interviews with fishers to highlight their perspective, the issues associated with shark depredation, and help create the opportunity for solutions to come forward through regional knowledge exchange.
As of December 2025, Pacific Islands Fisheries Group has conducted Shark Depredation workshops with fishers in American Samoa, Guam, CNMI, and Kona as well as interviews and review of historical data. The goal of the research is to reduce the impact of shark depredation by looking to the past and traditional practices of mitigation and avoidance.
To get involved:
you can download a shark depredation report form to contribute your experience,
Email Pacific Islands Fisheries Group (pacificfisheries@gmail.com or text Alex (808) 342-9748 to conduct an interview,
Share your perspective, ideas, and solutions on improving the shark depredation issue.
Click on the Image to download a form.
PIFG Conducts Cooperative Research in support of the Pacific Islands, Federal and State Fisheries Management with a vision and mission to support the sustainability of Hawaii’s fisheries and fishers’ culture and way of life. Some of the projects are listed below.