KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Tessie Aganon showed an assortment of local fish yesterday at Tropic Fish and Vegetable Center at the Ward Farmer's Market. Moi and moano, shown below with a ruler, are among the fishes for which the state is proposing new minimum catch lengths.

The law hopes to increase the
number of fish through stricter limits

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

IHEI, Maui >> Recreational diver Roy Ogawa said he's in favor of the state increasing the minimum size of fish that can be caught.

He hopes the proposal will help bring back the abundance of fish to waters off Maalaea, where he now only visits to collect edible seaweed and spear squid on the reefs.

"No sense already for dive around here," said Ogawa, a Kahului resident.

As catch numbers decrease for many Hawaii fish, the state is holding a series of public hearings about a proposal to increase size limits on the taking of fish from the ocean.

The hearings start at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Kaunakakai Elementary School cafeteria, 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the public library on Lanai, 7 p.m. June 25 in the Kealakehe High School cafeteria in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, and at 6:30 p.m. June 27 in the Hilo High School cafeteria.

Additional hearings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 2 at the Wilcox Elementary School cafetorium in Lihue, 6 p.m. July 9 at the Lihikai School cafeteria in Kahului, 6:30 p.m. July 11 at the Lincoln School cafeteria in Papakolea and 6:30 p.m. July 16 at the Waianae Public Library.

State researchers point out that fish catches have steadily declined for a number of species in Hawaii.

GARY T. KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM Diver Roy Ogawa, shown here on Monday, hopes a plan to revise minimum lengths on fish catches will help grow fish populations.

For all species of ulua and papio, the catch tons dropped to less than 100 tons by 1998 from more than 300 tons in 1948 and ama`ama or mugil cephalus to less than 25 tons by 1998 from close to 150 tons in 1949.

State aquatic officials point to a study that shows that current size limits weren't large enough so that mature fish could propagate once in their lives and increase in numbers.

"If we can set up a situation where the fish have a better chance to reproduce, greater reproduction should at one point lead to greater fish availability," said William Devick, administrator for the state aquatics division.

Under the proposal, the size limits would apply to persons taking fish from Hawaii waters commercially and for personal uses.

The state rules now set the minimum size for fish that are commercially caught.

State aquatic biologist Alton Miyasaka said the current rules are unenforceable because it's difficult to prove whether a person catching a fish intends to sell it.

He said the new law would enable officers patrolling the beaches to immediately return the small fish to the ocean.

The proposal for increasing the minimum length of a catch includes the kumu, or parupeneus porphyreus, to 10 inches from 7 inches, opelu kala, or naso hexacanthus, to 16 inches from 9 inches, the moi, or polydactylus sexfilis, to 11 inches from 7 inches, and various species of papio and ulua, such as caranx ignobilis, to 10 inches from 7 inches for home consumption and to 16 inches if sold commercially.

If found guilty, a person could face a maximum petty misdemeanor penalty of 30 days in jail and $1,000 fine and a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each specimen and for each violation.

Paul Abatie, manager of Lahaina Fishing Supply & Marine Hardware, said most shoreline fishermen who are really serious sports people are looking for bigger fish.

Abatie said he supports the proposal.

"I think it would be nice to have a little bit of control on the size," he said.