2 arrested for fishing
violation were wanted

Two men recently arrested for using illegal nets to catch small bait fish off the Windward Coast had outstanding warrants for other violations, state officials said yesterday.

Acting on tips from the public, state Department of Land and Natural Resources conservation enforcement officers cited and arrested the men for using illegal, fine-meshed throw nets in the ocean fronting Kalaeoio Beach Park, north of Kualoa Regional Park.

"DLNR appreciates calls and tips from the public in reporting violations. This is one way people can help support Hawaii's fishing regulations and our fish populations," said DLNR Director Peter Young. "Using small-mesh throw nets or other illegal gear to take juvenile fish is a practice that makes it very difficult to sustain our important fish stocks."

Routine criminal history checks on the men after their arrests revealed that they were wanted on more than $40,000 in outstanding warrants.

"These individuals are both repeat offenders who have been cited by DLNR in the past for various fishing violations," Young said.

The minimum stretched mesh size for a throw net in Hawaii is 2 inches. The stretched mesh size of both throw nets seized in this criminal investigation measured less than 1 inch.

Convicted violators of the rule are subject to fines of up to $1,000, a jail sentence of up to 30 days or both. In addition, their gear can be seized and forfeited. Anyone witnessing a fishing or natural-resource violation can call 587-0077 on Oahu. Call toll-free from the neighbor islands by dialing "Operator" and asking for "Enterprise 5469."