Environment Hawaii

Volume 17, Number 6 -- December 2006

BOARD TALK: Land Board Tightens Lay Gill Netting Rules, Vows to Continue Dialogue with Fishers, Hawaiians

To some, the state’s proposed lay gill net rule amendments penalize or make criminals of responsible fishermen, infringe on native Hawaiian fishing rights and cultural practices, and lack data supporting the foundational claim that lay gill netting damages marine resources. In the words of one person who testified on the subject at the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ November meeting, the proposed rules are “an invitation to violence.”

Others see the rule amendments as a great step forward toward protecting declining stocks of reef fish and minimizing the chance that endangered monk seals, sea turtles, and corals will become entangled in such nets – as happened to Penelope, the five-month-old monk seal found dead on a Waimanalo beach in October.

To the state Division of Aquatic Resources, which presented the rule amendments to the Land Board for approval on November 17, they were the culmination of more than a decade of disjointed and meandering efforts to restrict the potentially destructive fishing practice.

Maui Developer Fined CGM, LLC, has been fined $15,000 because the company, erroneously assuming that the Conservation District boundary line was the same as the Forest Reserve boundary, built a water tank, and utility and drainage easements in the Conservation District without a Land Board permit. In fact, the Conservation District extended below the Forest Reserve line, encompassing the improvements, which are part of the Wailuku Country Estates development.

New Ka`u Preserve The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i’s Ka`u preserve has become the first Big Island preserve to be included in the state’s Natural Area Partnership Program, which provides matching funds to private landowners for conservation management of their properties.

(Full article is 3400 words)

-- Teresa Dawson

To read the full article click here.

Article Keywords

environment hawaii board land natural resources lay gill net rules regulations division aquatic resources samuel gon nature conservancy hawaii Fair Catch campaign tim johns molokai office hawaiian affairs native rights hukilau paipai dede herron western pacific fishery management council association hawaiian civic clubs ho`ohanohano i na kupuna puwalu leimana damate charles burrows malama i ka lokahi william `aila antoinette lee kai makana donna kahakui randall kosaki national oceanic atmospheric administration john randall richard pyle charles birkeland tony costa jim anthony hawaii la`ieikawai association cha smith KAHEA corinne knutson CGM LLC tiger mills tim lui-kwan wahi ho`omalu limited partnership ka`u preserve mauna kea agrigusiness co.



						Manage Your Account Log Out
						Advanced search



	*Volume 17, Number 6 -- December 2006* BOARD TALK: Land Board Tightens Lay Gill Netting Rules, Vows to Continue Dialogue with Fishers, Hawaiians To some, the state’s proposed lay gill net rule amendments penalize or make criminals of responsible fishermen, infringe on native Hawaiian fishing rights and cultural practices, and lack data supporting the foundational claim that lay gill netting damages marine resources. In the words of one person who testified on the subject at the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ November meeting, the proposed rules are “an invitation to violence.” Others see the rule amendments as a great step forward toward protecting declining stocks of reef fish and minimizing the chance that endangered monk seals, sea turtles, and corals will become entangled in such nets – as happened to Penelope, the five-month-old monk seal found dead on a Waimanalo beach in October. To the state Division of Aquatic Resources, which presented the rule amendments to the Land Board for approval on November 17, they were the culmination of more than a decade of disjointed and meandering efforts to restrict the potentially destructive fishing practice. *Maui Developer Fined* CGM, LLC, has been fined $15,000 because the company, erroneously assuming that the Conservation District boundary line was the same as the Forest Reserve boundary, built a water tank, and utility and drainage easements in the Conservation District without a Land Board permit. In fact, the Conservation District extended below the Forest Reserve line, encompassing the improvements, which are part of the Wailuku Country Estates development. *New Ka`u Preserve* The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i’s Ka`u preserve has become the first Big Island preserve to be included in the state’s Natural Area Partnership Program, which provides matching funds to private landowners for conservation management of their properties. (Full article is 3400 words) *-- Teresa Dawson* To read the full article click here. Article Keywords environment hawaii board land natural resources lay gill net rules regulations division aquatic resources samuel gon nature conservancy hawaii Fair Catch campaign tim johns molokai office hawaiian affairs native rights hukilau paipai dede herron western pacific fishery management council association hawaiian civic clubs ho`ohanohano i na kupuna puwalu leimana damate charles burrows malama i ka lokahi william `aila antoinette lee kai makana donna kahakui randall kosaki national oceanic atmospheric administration john randall richard pyle charles birkeland tony costa jim anthony hawaii la`ieikawai association cha smith KAHEA corinne knutson CGM LLC tiger mills tim lui-kwan wahi ho`omalu limited partnership ka`u preserve mauna kea agrigusiness co.
	72 Kapi`olani St. \| Hilo, HI \| 96720 \| t. (808) 934-0115 \| eMail: pattum@environment-hawaii.org © 1990-2006 Environment Hawai'i. All rights reserved.