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State urged to A marine life conservation district.
protect NW
Hawaiian reefs
But some at a hearing worried
that new rules might be too strictBy Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comA reserve. A refuge. A no-take zone.
According to a majority of people testifying at an Oahu hearing yesterday, any of those designations would be better than what the state is proposing for its Northwestern Hawaiian Islands waters: a "fishery management area."
"I feel that the creation of a fishery management area does not complement the recently created Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve," said Peter Rappa, a Sea Grant extension agent.
The federal reserve was established by President Bill Clinton in the last months before he left office and begins at three miles from shore.
The state has jurisdiction over waters from any landform to three miles out -- and that encompasses a lot of precious coral reef areas, a variety of people emphasized to Department of Land and Natural Resources staff conducting the hearing.
Cha Smith, executive director of the KaHea Hawaiian-environmental organization, spoke of the "unique, rich and fragile nature" of the remote islands and urged "that the state provide at least as stringent protection as the federal part of the reserve."
Alan Hong, manager of Hana-uma Bay, urged the state not to wait for damage and public outcry to establish strong rules protecting marine life. "It's very critical to put in the strongest regulations you can right now," he said.
Recreational sailboater Bill Pelzer said he's concerned that what's billed as a fisheries management area would keep even non-fishing visitors like himself out, people who might want to "observe wildlife, take pictures."
He also raised the question about how the department will have adequate staff to police the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, when it has just a handful of enforcement officers for the entire island of Oahu.
But Lynn Hodgson, a specialist in seaweeds at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, urged the state to keep out most people, even if it limited access for scientists like herself.
"I'd prefer a no-taking ban with minimal visitation," she said.
Meanwhile, fishermen Timm Timoney and Frank Farm expressed support for allowing fishermen in the area and had questions about whether the proposed rules were too strict.
The hearing yesterday at Kawananakoa Middle School was the first scheduled for each main Hawaiian Island over the next two weeks. Written comments will be accepted by the department until Feb. 15.
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