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Gov sinks longliners’
hopes for state help

Star-Bulletin staff

There is little the state can do in response to a federal judge's proposed ban on longline fishing, Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday, except hope that the judge changes his order.

Cayetano said he has already checked with Attorney General Earl Anzai about whether the state could intervene on longliners' behalf and the answer was no.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra has called for a huge reduction in longline fishing efforts beginning July 26. He would also require federal observers to be on every longline vessel and close former fishing grounds until an environmental impact statement was completed by April 2001.

The National Marine Fisheries Service and Hawaii Longliners Association will argue today in court that the judge should reconsider his ruling.

The association asked Cayetano yesterday in an open letter to intervene. "Under the court's existing order we will be ruined even if the (environmental impact) study shows, as we know, that our longlines do not have a significant impact on the sea turtles," the letter said.

Saying Ezra is "a reasonable man," Cayetano said he hoped there would be a way to modify or limit the order limiting longline fishing.

"We are concerned about the impact on the fishing industry," Cayetano said.

Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said earlier yesterday she hoped the state could file a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the fishermen.

Hirono stressed she could not speak for the governor but said she felt Ezra's ruling was too strict and the decision would not help protect the endangered turtles.

Kayla Nguyen, daughter of a longline fisherman and a student at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, said at a news conference called by the longliners that people like her parents would have a difficult time finding new jobs if the fisheries were closed.

"My mom can read almost no English and my dad just a little English, so it is not likely they will find another job," she said.

If the judge does not change his ruling, the Hawaii Longliners Association has said it would appeal the decision.

The association has mounted an extensive advertising campaign in recent weeks, alleging that "mainland groups who don't care about Hawaii and its people -- want to destroy Hawaii's longline fishing industry."

The Turtle Island Restoration Network and the Center for Marine Conservation filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service, alleging the government agency wasn't fulfilling its mandate to protect endangered sea turtles. That lawsuit led to Ezra's ruling.

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