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A labor union representing 12 longline observers laid off by the National Marine Fisheries Service today called for the resignation of two high-ranking agency officials, saying they are to blame for the current crisis facing longliners in Hawaii.

The Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pacific called a news conference to demand the resignations of Penelope Dalton, assistant administrator for Fisheries, and Rod McEnnis, acting administrator of the Southwest Region.

"Until there is new leadership at the National Marine Fisheries Service, or at least until the current leaders are held accountable, no progress can be made in this fishery, and the finger pointing will continue," said Lono Kane, regional director of the boatmen's union.

Hawaii's $50 million longline industry and a fleet of 115 boats is in the balance following a June 26 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Ezra effectively closing longline fishing grounds around the state until threats to endangered sea turtles can be determined.

The judge ordered observers be put on all fishing boats by July 23 -- a difficult task for the federal agency, which in May laid off 12 of its 14 observers for lack of funds.

Lono today said the observers, represented by the boatmen's union, were terminated in the midst of contract negotiations.

HARD WORK ON LONGLINER

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
During a media tour yesterday to demonstrate longline fishing,
crew members of the Katy Mary re-rack hook leaders
as they come aboard the ship.

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Donald Iman coils leader rigs as they come in after a fishing set.

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Crew members aboard the longliner Katy Mary prepare to do
a small line set for the news media. The 1,000-pound test
mainline goes out at right from the line shooter, which spits
the line out at about 1.3 times the boat's speed. Radio buoys
(at center) mark the ends of the set with hook leaders
and floaters (at right) spaced in between.

"According to the Federal Register (of) Oct. 20, 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service has not asked for an allocation of funds for the observer program nor for the necessary environmental impact statement," he said.

McEnnis today said money was recently found within the federal agency to rehire some or all of the employees until an emergency funding measure allocating $7 million to the service -- $5 million for the observer program and $2 million to complete the environmental study -- is signed and released by President Clinton.

He denied the employees were terminated. "We've placed observers on leave without pay," he said. "They continue as employees under that status."

McEnnis said the observers were hired as seasonal workers with the understanding they would be put on leave without pay if the program ran into budgetary problems.

Lono said the workers did not have that understanding, and noted that previous observers were not hired under such terms.

Moreover, the fisheries service mismanaged funds earmarked for the observer program, Lono charged.

"We feel they are directly responsible for the shortfall," said Lono.

McEnnis said the federal agency has struggled to keep its Hawaii observers -- part of a national program -- employed.

"I've used every bit of slack I could find in our regional office," he said.

Dalton could not be reached immediately for comment.