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Hearings set on The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are recognized as world-class examples of pristine coral reefs. But protection for them under the almost year-old federal Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve begins only three miles from shore.
NW isle fishing
Meetings on proposed rules for
the protected area will start Jan. 15By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.comCurrently, the state has few rules in place for those near-shore waters and the coral reefs they contain, said Athline Clark, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources liaison for the area.
The department will hold public hearings about proposed fishing rules for state waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands beginning Jan. 15 on Oahu.
Hearings also will be held on each neighbor island, and written testimony will be accepted until Feb. 15.
The proposed rules would:
>> Limit entry into state waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to permit-holders only.
>> Limit fishing to line gear only, such as trolling, handline, and pole and line.
>> Prohibit setting foot on shore of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or destroying corals.
>> Issue permits only after the public had 30 days to comment on them.
In recent years, there have been reports of a fishing boat anchored in the middle of one Northwestern Hawaiian Island's lagoon for weeks. Researchers have found campfire remnants on some of the islands.
"With ecotourism at Midway and now active fishing at Kure, there are impacts at both ends of the chain now that weren't there before," Clark said.
For a time, talk circulated that entrepreneurs were considering dive tours, using fast catamarans based on Kauai, charter boats or float planes, Clark said.
It has become clear, Clark said, that the state needs rules for state waters that complement existing and planned federal rules.
"If you look at a chart where the sovereign waters of the state are defined, there are some places -- in French Frigate Shoals, the Pearl and Hermes Reef and Kure -- where state waters almost completely compose the lagoon of the atoll," said Robert Smith, manager of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve.
"If they're saying they can't control access to the interior waters of an atoll, I think it's a good idea they get a handle on that," he said.
In some cases, existing U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reserves control portions of near-shore waters because its jurisdiction is measured by depth -- at either the 10 or 20 fathom line.
Spokeswoman Barbara Maxfield said the agency welcomes stricter state rules.
"We're very concerned, always, about protecting the environment out there, so having another layer of regulations is important to us," she said.
The hearings are "an opportunity for people to come out and express their views, the pros and cons about what they'd like to see," Clark said.
Rick Gaffney, a recreational fishing representative on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council, said it does not appear that state rules on fishing in the Northwestern Isles would have much effect on recreational fishers, because few go there.
It could, however, affect commercial fishers, who might not want to give up the option of fishing in state waters, he said.
Commercial fishermen who work in the area could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold public hearings about proposed fishing rules for state waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands on: Public hearings on fishing rules
>> Jan. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Kawananakoa School Cafeteria in Honolulu.
>> Jan. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Wilcox School Cafeteria in Lihue.
>> Jan. 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Lihikai Elementary School in Wailuku.
>> Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Kealakehe Intermediate School in Kona.
>> Jan. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Hilo Intermediate School.Those unable to attend a hearing may submit written testimony to: Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813. All testimonies must be received by Feb. 15.
Proposed rules can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr or requested by calling 587-0100.