Council could alter rules for isle fishing
Agencies solicit feedback on plans to limit bottom-fishing
Trying to allow Hawaii's bottom-fish stocks to replenish, government agencies propose changing the rules on when and where fishing is allowed -- and are seeking fishers' input.
"We're trying to find the least irritating way to tell people they can't fish as much," said Tony Beeching, a Western Pacific Regional Fishery Council analyst.
Meetings
Informational meetings on proposed regulations for bottom fish:
» Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Waianae Public Library, Waianae
» Thursday, 6-8 p.m., Heeia State Park, Kaneohe
» Thursday, 6-8 p.m., Port Allen Boat Club, Kauai
» Friday, 6-8 p.m. Hanalei Elementary School, Kauai
» Jan. 23, 6-8 p.m., Helene Social Hall, Hana Bay, Maui
» Jan. 24, 6-8 p.m., Mitchell Pauole Center Conference Room, Kaunakakai
» Jan. 26, 6-8 p.m., Lanai Public Library, Lanai City
» Jan. 27, 6-8 p.m., Haleiwa Surf Center, Oahu
Proposals for bottom-fish regulations can be found at:
» www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/announce.htm#brfa for state waters.
» www.wpcouncil.org for federal waters.
For more information, contact state Commercial Fisheries Program Manager Alton Miyasaka at 587-0092 or Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council analyst Tony Beeching at 522-8224.
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The effort is driven by a U.S. Department of Commerce directive that the catch of bottom fish be reduced 15 percent. Rules for state waters (out to three miles from shore) are set by the state Division of Aquatic Resources and for federal waters (three or more miles from shore) are set by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.
Both agencies have spelled out their proposals on their Web sites and are holding meetings this month to gather feedback from fishermen.
Bottom fish in Hawaii include uku, hapuupuu (Hawaiian grouper), opakapaka (pink snapper), onaga (red snapper), ehu, butaguchi, kalekale, gindai and lehi. These fish are generally found at depths of 50 to 150 fathoms and fished with a hook and line.
"We encourage fishers to attend the meetings and to give us their input on existing bottom-fish restricted fishing areas and on the recommended changes," said Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The state proposes redrawing the boundaries of "bottom-fish restricted fishing areas" it created in 1998 to increase the bottom-fish habitat covered, reduce the total number of restricted areas, and make their boundaries easier to locate and enforce.
The Western Pacific federal council offers several options, without picking one yet. They are to:
» Keep its rules the same and allow the reduction in fishing to come about in state waters.
» Close Penguin Bank and Middle Bank to bottom-fishing year-round.
» Seasonally closing the entire main Hawaiian Islands to bottom-fishing during to-be-established summer months.
» Establish catch limits for the entire commercial fleet or by commercial boat.
The council will decide on its final recommendation at its March meeting in Honolulu.
About 80 percent of bottom-fishing grounds in the main Hawaiian Islands are in state waters, while 100 percent of bottom-fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is regulated by the federal council.
About 495,000 pounds of bottom fish were caught commercially in Hawaii in 2003, the latest year for which statistics were available. Of that total, about 55 percent were caught in the main islands, where some 2,200 boats are registered as commercial vessels. The other 45 percent are caught in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where just nine commercial boats, and no recreational boats, are licensed to operate.
Recreational fishermen have limits on how many fish they can catch (five onaga and ehu combined, per person per trip) but are not required to report their catch totals.