SHARK DEPREDATION IN

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

FISHERS OBSERVATIONS. SCIENCE. SOLUTIONS

Shark interactions are increasing across the Pacific Islands, impacting livelihoods, food security, and fishing practices. This project brings together fisher knowledge, science, and innovation to understand and reduce depredation.

THE PROBLEM

What is Shark Depredation?

Shark depredation occurs when sharks remove catch completely or partially on fishing gear before it can be retrieved. Fishers across the Pacific Islands report that depredation is increasing, causing significant losses and changes to how and where they fish.

  • Fishers report losing up to 50% of catch to sharks

  • Depredation rates have increased from ~32–52% to ~42–61% of trips experiencing depredation in past decade based on reported data. Division of Aquatic Resources

  • Impacts small-boat fisheries

ON-GOING WORK

Recording and mapping traditional knowledge of high shark bycatch interaction to reduce take in the Pacific Islands

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group in 2025 initiated a cooperative research project under NOAA’s Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) to assist the pacific islands fishers with recording the knowledge, interactions, and lessons in order to help reduce shark depredation and bycatch of sharks in the local island fisheries. This work specifically looked at both historical mitigation measures as well as new ones to help new entrants and fishers experiencing shark depredation learn good practices versus continuing to experience depredation.

How We are Achieving This Goal:

  • Hosting 6 listening sessions with fishers

  • Developing a list of mitigation measures

  • Conducting a public outreach campaign on best practices and lessons learned

Our Outcomes:

  • A story map showcasing mitigation measures and the history of shark depredation in the region.

  • A list of mitigation measures from fishers from across the region.

  • On-going discussions and strategies to help new entrants learn best practices and reduce shark bycatch.

Preliminary Results & Recommendations

Through our public listening sessions and discussions with fishers, as well as review of historical data we have achieved preliminary results and recommendations that we want to ensure the fishing community knows about and can access. These include 9 mitigation measures and strategies - some known and some less common on reducing depredation.

What fishers are observing

  • Shark depredation is worse than ever

  • Sharks are trained to the boats and show up before you even put bait in the water

  • Sharks are attacking hooked fish more frequently

  • Aggressive behavior is occurring with spear fishers.

What history tells us

  • Sharks were respected and also harvested across the pacific islands region.

  • The peak in shark landings in our region occurred in 1998, 99,910 sharks caught between longline, troll, and bottom fishers.

  • Sharks were utilized as a food source, medicine, and for cultural importance including ceremonies, gifts, and instruments.

What actions fishers feel can help

  • A code of conduct on how to deal with and operate around sharks.

  • Culling of aggressive sharks

  • Clarifying what fishers are and not allowed to do.

Mitigation Measures

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. This project is funded by NOAA’s Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program under award contract: NA25NMFX472C0087-T1-01