New akule rules posted

In earlier days a konohiki, or local overseer, at Hanalei and other coastal areas on Kaua’i dictated how many outrigger canoe loads of the fish could be caught each fishing season.

Today there is no regulation on commercial fishing of akule at Hanalei, except for a newly-enacted statewide fishing rule that has increased the size of the width of the eyes of the mesh of the akule nets from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. Existing rules also limit to three days the amount of time a school of akule can be held in nets.

However, new rules were posted earlier this week by the DLNR’s Aquatic Division that regulate akule fishing at Hanama’ulu Bay and Ahukini Pier, Nawiliwili Harbor and Port Allen.

Before issuing the rules, the DLNR held public meetings soliciting information from representatives of commercial netters, from commercial fish hook and line fishermen, and from recreational pole and line fishermen from across the state.

Maps of the areas where the rules are in place are located on the DLNR’s Web site (www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/har_toc.htm).

The new rules for a section of Hanama’ulu Bay, including the waters at the Ahukini recreational pier, prohibit: swimming in a section of the bay near the pier; use of a “draw, drag, seine or any other type of net except thrownet and crab net”; use of any thrownet or spear in Hanamaulu bay within fifty yards of the Ahukini pier or from the adjoining abandoned pier frame; “snag any fish or possess any thrownet while on the Ahukini recreational pier; “possess or take more than seventy-five akule per person per day” from the zone near the pier; and “possess or take more than five mullet per person per day” from the zone.

At a section of Nawiliwili the new rules prohibit: “Use of any net, except for a landing net not exceeding three feet in any dimension, excluding the handle”; snagging any fish; and possessing or taking more than seventy-five akule per person per day. There can be exceptions to these rules through a permit process.

At Port Allen, the new rules prohibit: “Use of any net, except for a landing net of any mesh size not exceeding three feet in any dimension”; snagging any fish; and possessing or taking more than seventy-five akule per person per day. There can be exceptions to these rules through a permit process for reasons of public health, safety, and welfare, for resource management, and other reasons.

No rules were posted that are specific to Hanalei Bay, while mid-springtime is a choice time for akule fishing in Hanalei Bay.

This is also the time of year when a commercial fishing boat out of Honolulu usually pays a visit to the semi-circular bay to net akule using spotter planes to zero in on schools of the fish.

Akule, a silvery big-eye scad fish, flock to the scenic bay this time of year and are an excellent source of protein in the traditional diet of Hawaiians.

Akule is sold at a reasonable price in local markets and along roads across the state, bringing nutritious food to the tables of many local people. Commercial fishing of akule helps keep the price down, and allows non-fishing families easy access to it on store shelves.

Some claim the annual arrival of the commercial fishermen also lures sharks to the shoreline of Hanalei Bay.

In mid-May 2000 Hanalei Bay was closed to swimming for the about four days following the sighting of a pack of tiger sharks and other sharks offshore.

County lifeguards, and some local residents in calls to The Garden Island, said the sharks were probably drawn to the bay by remains of dead fish found floating in the bay, and washed up on the beach, following commercial akule fishing in the bay.

About five sharks, ranging in size between 8 and 12 feet, were seen in the bay within 5 to 10 feet of the shoreline.

Callers to The Garden Island this week expressed fears that sharks would return to the shore of Hanalei Bay once the commercial fishing for akule begins. One caller said fears of a shark attack are heightened following the attack on Hokuanu Aki on the South Shore last month.