April 2, 2015 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is pleased to announce the free public screenings and availability of the full-length version of the locally made documentary 'Ahi – The Yellowfin Tuna: Managing Our Fisheries. This important film examines the cultural and economic importance of yellowfin tuna, a favorite among Hawaiʻi chefs, consumers and fishermen. The video also addresses the issue of mercury in fish and why mercury in Hawai'i tuna is not a health concern; groundbreaking research suggesting that yellowfin, once assumed to be highly migratory like other species of tuna, if spawned in Hawai'i waters tend to remain in Hawai'i waters; and why state and federal fishery managers are reviewing the current 3-pound minimum size limit for the sale of 'ahi in Hawai'i.
'Ahi – The Yellowfin Tuna: Managing Our Fisheries premiered in Hawai'i earlier this year on KGMB-TV and is now being screened at the following free public events.
– Sunday, April 5, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. in the Education Center Alcove, City and County of Honolulu's Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, 100 Hanauma Bay Dr. Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawai'i as part of the Sundays at the Bay! film and lecture series, presented by the University of Hawai'i's Sea Grant Hanauma Bay Education Program. Council staff Chris Hawkins will introduce the video and answer questions. This presentation will be live streamed at Google Plus Hangouts on Air, accessible by phone, iPad or computer by searching for Haunama Talks. For more information, call (808) 397-5840 or go to www.hbep.seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/community-events-calendar.
Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center, Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as part of the First Friday Films series, a partnership of the Division of Environmental Quality and the National Park Service. For scheduling and program updates, contact Todd Miller at tmiller.dfw@gmail.com or visit www.firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com.
The video can also be viewed and downloaded at the Council's YouTube and Vimeo accounts (youtube.com/user/wpcouncil/videos and vimeo.com/wprfmc) as well as the Council website (www.wpcouncil.org/education-and-outreach/educational-videos-4/).
For updates on other public viewings and management of Hawai'i 'ahi, stay connected with the Council via Constant Contact (sign up for the Council's newsletter at www.wpcouncil.org), Facebook (facebook.com/wprfmc) or Twitter (twitter.com/wpcouncil). Copies of the video have been provided to fishing clubs upon request. For more information, contact Sylvia Spalding at (808) 522-5341 or sylvias@lava.net.