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Tuesday, November 2, 1999




By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
At Hanauma Bay, Peter Rappa of the University of
Hawaii Sea Grant Extentsion Service warns
people about feeding the fish.



Residents resent
fish-feeding ban

Feed the fish at Hanauma Bay
and be fined $1,000 or go to jail

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

It's residents, not the tourists, who are bothered by new restrictions on feeding the fish at Hanauma Bay.

Until yesterday, bay-goers could buy fish food at the snack bar, but now feeding the fish is illegal and could result in a maximum fine of $1,000 or 30 days in jail.

Peter Rappa, an extension agent for the Coastal Resource Management Division of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service, said most of the complaints about the new rules have come from Hawaii residents.

"If you have a person who's lived here all their lives and been feeding the fish for 20 years, it's a little bit more difficult to tell them not to feed the fish," Rappa said.

For example, local resident Michael Crail, 42, said fish feeding should be regulated, not restricted.

"They should still let them feed them, just not as much," he said. "Maybe you have to buy (fish food) from the area, not bring your own."

But tourists snorkeling at the bay yesterday approved of the new restrictions and said the fish were plentiful, even when not offered food.

'You'll see fish swarming people.
This is not a normal
fish behavior.'

Peter Rappa

Extension agent for the Coastal Resource
Management Division of the University
of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service

Tapa

"It looks at this point that all the fish are just scavenging around anyway. There's probably lots of leftovers," said Dave Rose, a 29-year-old visitor from Canada.

His wife, Mary, 27, added that a line needs to be drawn to protect the natural ecosystem.

"Maybe the tourists want to feed the fish, but it's not the right thing for the fish, or for this part of the ocean, or for the residents of the island," said Laurel Rose, a 27-year-old visitor from Canada.

Because Hanauma Bay is in a marine life conservation district, people should expect to see a natural ecosystem, Rappa said. But feeding the fish changes their behavior.

"You'll see fish swarming people. This is not a normal fish behavior," he explained.

Fish feeding has also changed the composition of fish in shallow waters. The food has attracted nenue and mullet, aggressive reef fish, which normally prefer deeper water, Rappa said.

"They move in and push out all the fish that should normally feed in the shallow water areas," he said.

Crail has noticed how fish behavior has changed over the years.

"They're a little more aggressive than before," he said. "They just come up and bump against you. Little kids get afraid."

And sometimes the fish bite.

Banning fish feeding may reduce the number of injuries visitors receive at the bay. Four or five minor injuries are reported each day, mostly involving hands in the water, Rappa said.

"The fish are not biting it because they think it's a food item," he said. "They're in a feeding frenzy and your hand is just in the way."

It will take up to 18 months to determine what effect the new ban will have on the ecosystem.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will be patrolling the area for the next few days to ensure that regulations are enforced.

"We feel if you put out the right information, voluntary compliance will take place," said Michael Lapilio, Oahu branch chief for conservation and resources enforcement.



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