WAILUKU >> Maui fisherman Brian Yoshikawa said he is happy about a new rule that will raise the minimum catch size of a number of reef fish, but he wonders how effective it will be if the state does not add more enforcement officers and educate the public. New fish size rules
effective todayBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com"I think it's a step in managing our fisheries," he said, "but without education and enforcement, it's not going to do us any good."
As the state rule takes effect today, some fishers are wondering how quickly the public will follow a new regulation that changes many standards that have been in effect since Hawaii was a territory.
"With all the changes in the regulations, it takes time for the public to accept them," said state aquatic resources official Frances Oishi.
Oishi said he does not foresee an increase in enforcement officers, but the division is publishing the new rules and making them available to the public at state aquatic resource offices. The new rule was implemented after a series of statewide public meeting and hearings.
Besides an increase in fish catch sizes, the rule also changes the way fish are measured. While the old rule measured the fish from the snout to the tip of the tail, the new rule measures the fish from the snout to the fork of the tail.
State aquatic resources administrator William Devick said the new minimum sizes were based on the size of fish at sexual maturity.
"For these popular shoreline fish, we want to give them a chance to reproduce at least once before they are consumed," Devick said.
State officials said there has been a decline in fish populations because of several problems, including excessive fishing, and the goal of the new rule is to help to increase the number of nearshore fish.
Officials also have extended the closed season for amaama, or striped mullet, from December through April. The previous closed season was from December through February.
The rule limits the daily number of amaama taken per person at Hilo Bay to 10 from 20.
Minimum sizes for taking fish have been raised for amaama to 11 inches from 7 inches; moi, or Pacific thread-fin, 11 inches from 7 inches; oio, or bonefish, 14 inches from 9 inches; uhu, or parrotfish, to 12 inches from 1 pound; ulua/papio, or juvenile and adult jacks, for personal consumption, 10 inches from 7 inches; ulua/papio, or juvenile and adult jacks, for sale, 16 inches from 1 pound; kumu, or goatfish, 10 inches from 7 inches; kala, or unicorn surgeonfish, 14 inches from 9 inches; and opelu kala, 16 inches from 9 inches.
The minimum inch length remains unchanged for aholehole, or flagtail, 5 inches; awa, or milkfish, 9 inches; moano, or barred goatfish, 7 inches; manini, or convict tang, 5 inches; and weke, or white goatfish, 7 inches.
A person convicted of violating a state fish-size rule faces a maximum of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail and a minimum penalty of a $100 fine.
Dept. of Land & Natural Resources