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NW Hawaii
preserve brings
mixed reactions

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

President Clinton's creation yesterday of a huge nature preserve in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands -- to save coral reefs and habitat for fish, seals, turtles and birds -- has received mixed reactions.

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve would include the chain of small isles, atolls, submerged banks and reefs that extend 1,200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

A White House statement said the executive order would ban oil, gas and mineral production in the reserve, prevent the removal of coral, and cap commercial and recreational fishing at present levels. The order would bar dumping but permit native Hawaiian subsistence fishing and cultural uses.

Environmentalists insist the protection will boost marine life and ultimately bolster Hawaii's fishing industry. But some in the fishing industry and some Hawaii politicians think the plan needs more deliberation. Public meetings on the plan are to be held this month.

According to U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, "very little Hawaii public dialogue and discussion went into the development of the executive order before us." He called for "full and meaningful dialogue between fishermen, environmentalists, scientists, the general public, government agencies and others critical to success."

Gov. Ben Cayetano said: "Balancing the protection of one of our most precious resources with the concerns of fishermen who rely on access to the area affected is a difficult task that should involve considerable input from everyone concerned. I urge the federal government to remain open to the views of the public, and I encourage all interested to attend the public meetings to share their views on the proposal."

The proposed reserve is viewed with apprehension by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. "The problem here is that we do not know what the details are," said Kitty Simonds, council executive director. If it impacts fisheries in any way, the Council probably won't be able to support it, she said.

But Cha Smith, coordinator of Kahea, a Hawaii environmental alliance, doesn't think the president's plan will increase foreign fish imports, as the fishery council predicts. Smith blamed "failed management practices" for the decline of the bottomfishery in the main Hawaiian Islands and the lobster fishery in the Northwest Islands, and said "claims that bottomfish prices would skyrocket were unfounded."

Robert Wilder, director of conservation programs for the Pacific Whale Foundation, and Gregory Kaufman, foundation president, were among the environmentalists who witnessed the president sign the executive order into law to establish the reserve yesterday.

"Because Pacific Whale Foundation is located in Maui, we have a great appreciation for the value of this new preservation area," Wilder said.

"Within the reserve is a primary nesting area for Hawaii's green sea turtles and an important habitat for the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal," he said. "This is a beautiful case of public, local and national groups and native Hawaiian organizations all coming together to support a common-sense objective."

Wilder views the reserve as a nursery ground for young fish that in maturity find their way to the main Hawaiian Islands, and this will guarantee fishing remains a way of life in Hawaii far into the future, he said