Rising prices mean that longline fishermen in Hawai'i are no longer recouping their costs and making a profit. The situation has become so bad that Hawai'i Public Radio reports that some industry members are "rethinking" their careers. 

Peter Webster, the owner of Hawai'i-based longline fishing boat the Itasca, told the outlet that a 20-day fishing trip used to cost around $8,000 after factoring in fuel, bait, food and any other necessities. However, he said, due to inflation, trips now range between $25,000 and $35,000.

The issue is not only higher costs for fuel and bait, but also the price for fish, which has stayed the same. Webster said the prices of fish are not "to the standards of everything else."

"We've been looking at a $3.00 to $5.00 market for about 30 years," he said. "That's never changed. It's the price of everything else that's going up."

Webster believes that part of the issue is international competition. Hawai'i Public Radio reports that more than 60% of seafood consumed in Hawai'i is imported. Asian countries don't have the same fishing regulations as the US, and they are often able to fish for cheaper, which allows their catch to be sold at a lower price. Hawai'i also doesn't require restaurants or retailers to include where a seafood product is from, so consumers are often unaware that they are buying imported fish.

Blame could also be put on the Honolulu Fish Auction, which has not been as accessible to the public since the pandemic. 

Whatever the case may be, fishermen like Webster are looking to tap out.

"If we ain't making money, it doesn't make any sense, right?" said Webster. "I can't go three trips without making anything. I make nothing."