In March, a jury in Honolulu federal court decided that Bridge ‘Aina Le‘a, LLC, had suffered damages when the Hawai‘i Land Use Commission voted in 2011 to put land the company owned on the Big Island back into the Agricultural … Continued
The land at issue in the Bridge ‘Aina Le‘a litigation was placed into the Urban district in 1989. A succession of owners failed to develop it, and in 1999, a subsidiary of Bridge Capital, a company now headquartered in the … Continued
It’s been five years since the National Marine Fisheries Service adopted a take reduction plan (TRP) to address the Hawai‘i longline fleet’s interactions with false killer whales (FKW). The plan required vessels to use stronger branch lines and weaker hooks … Continued
In its first few meetings, Honolulu’s new Climate Change Commission has heard from a slew of city agency heads about the status of their respective agencies’ efforts to plan for climate change effects. Some agencies have gone further than others. … Continued
Maunakea Silverswords: At some time in late March or early April, the gate leading into the silversword reserve near Hale Pohaku, on Maunakea, was not just damaged, but completely removed by vandals, as revealed on a visit in early April. … Continued
May 2018
The Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery, which reportedly provides 50 percent of the domestic swordfish catch and generates about $3 million in revenue, could soon close for the third time since 2004 because of its interactions with federally protected sea turtles. … Continued
In January 2012, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a biological opinion (BiOp), which found that the Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery would not jeopardize the continued existence of loggerhead or leatherback turtles if it operated under a leatherback interaction … Continued
Neither the expansion of marine monuments nor the strict bigeye tuna quotas set by international fishing organizations have stopped Hawai‘i’s deep-set longline fleet from growing. Last year, the fishery had a record number of active vessels, 145, which together set … Continued
A new stock assessment by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) suggests that the Main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish restricted fishing areas (BRFAs) established two decades ago, when stocks were thought to be in deep peril, could be downsized — … Continued