Mama’s Fish House Sponsors New Fishing Buoy Off Maui

Mahi mahi. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Mama’s Fish House will be deploying a new fishing buoy in waters approximately 30 miles off the northeast shore of Maui on May 15, according to an announcement by Perry Bateman, Mama’s Fish House executive chef and Mike Pascher, the restaurant’s chef de poisson.

“We feel it is essential that we support this research. We are also hoping that this MFH1 buoy is the start of bringing the fishing community together to cooperatively support additional [Fish Aggregation Devices] and to ensure that this unique Hawaiian way of life can continue for generations to come,” said Bateman, in a written statement.

Currently, the State of Hawaii maintains a network of approximately 55 FADS that are anchored to the seafloor at a depth of over 15,000 feet. These buoys are the habitat for pelagic species such as tuna, mahi mahi, ono, and billfish.

According a media release by the restaurant, what makes this FAD different from state-funded buoys is the first partnership between private business, fishermen, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

Fisherman benefit from fishing around floating logs, nets, debris and other floating materials as FADs are used to temporarily “attract” and “hold” pelagic fishes in an area for fishing. This technique saves the fishermen transit time and fuel costs and promotes fish production.

All of the FADs require maintenance and sometimes full replacement. Mama’s Fish House is providing funding for the assembly and deployment of the buoy in a permitted location held by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.