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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
PR 04-92 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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For Immediate Release:
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| KAILUA-KONA — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public hearing next week, to discuss proposed rule amendments to the following Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR): • Chapter 13-37, Old Kona Airport Marine Life Conservation District,
Hawaii The public hearing will be held in Kona at the Kealakehe High School cafeteria (74-500 Puohulihuli Street) on December 9, 2004, at 6:00 P.M. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive testimonies, comments and recommendations on the proposed amendments to: Chapter 13-37, Old Kona Airport Marine Life Conservation District, Hawaii. The proposed amendments would allow the harvest of sea urchins, or wana within the conservation district. They would also authorize the Board of Land and Natural Resources to institute a temporary moratorium to stop the harvesting if the board finds that the sea urchin populations were jeopardized by overharvesting or other factors. Allowing the harvest of wana would permit access to these resources by the public, but still provide for the wana populations' sustainability. Chapter 13-58, Kona Coast, Hawaii. The proposed amendments would clarify the boundaries of the existing zones established to prohibit aquarium fish collecting and fish feeding, and extend these zones seaward to the 100-fathom contour to make them consistent with other such established zones. Clarification would aid in the public's understanding of uniformly defined managed areas as well as for the Department enforcing these rules. Chapter 13-60.3, West Hawaii Regional Fisheries Management Area, Hawaii. The proposed amendments would implement additional requirements on commercial aquarium fish collectors, establish more stringent regulations on lay net use, and include areas where lay net fishing would be prohibited. Proposed additional requirements on commercial aquarium fish collecting would make enforcing this activity more effective. The proposed amendments establish more stringent regulations on the use of lay nets and lay net fishing (including areas where they would be prohibited from use) would provide for more sustainable use of fishery resources and would facilitate enforcement. The proposed rule changes can be reviewed online at the Division of Aquatic Resources’ website at: http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar ### For more information, contact: Francis Oishi |
