2 fishing clubs allege violations by council
Two Oahu fishing clubs are asking for a federal investigation of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council over how the council is handling proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands fishing regulations.
The Waianae Boat Fishing Club and Oahu Game Fish Club allege that the Fishery Council has engaged in "questionable practices concerning the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine reserve and a presidential proposal to designate that area as a marine sanctuary," according to a Nov. 7 letter to Johnnie Frazier, inspector general for the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The council, made up mostly of fishermen and fishing industry officials, establishes fishing rules for federal waters for the Western Pacific. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rejected the council's proposed fishing regulations for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, saying they do not meet sanctuary guidelines.
Recreational fishing clubs have been at odds with the council because they say the federally funded group favors commercial fishing interests. The two Oahu clubs allege in a 44-page report released yesterday that council members or staff:
» Improperly lobbied the Bush administration to weaken President Bill Clinton's executive orders that established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve and called for its consideration as a National Marine Sanctuary.
» Improperly tried to alter sanctuary "goals and objectives" set up by the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council.
» Improperly stalled for time in making the Fishery Council's proposal for fishing rules for the area.
» Gave false and misleading information in a media campaign to sway public opinion about proposed rules.
» Failed to comply with federal guidelines when submitting its proposed rules.
The two fishing clubs' report was compiled by Alaska-based attorney Peter Van Tuyn.
"We're trying to show that there's a pattern of arrogance, of not following the laws," said William Aila, a Waianae conservation advocate.
Kitty Simonds, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council executive director, said the fishing clubs' report "had numerous factual misstatements and basic misunderstandings of the council's authority.
"I believe the council has behaved responsibly and legally," she said yesterday from Guam, where she was attending a council meeting.
Simonds said her 15-person staff, which has an annual budget of $1.7 million from the Commerce Department, would cooperate if there is an investigation.