Groups demand fisheries oversight

Hawai‘i environmentalists in June filed corruption complaints against the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, alleging misuse of federal funds and illegal lobbying for state legislation.

Those complaints were in addition to a request by three environmental groups, a native Hawaiian cultural organization and a national science and policy institute on June 20 calling for a congressional hearing and resignation of Wespac Executive Director Kitty Simonds.

“It’s a long-term, untenable pattern of mismanagement of our resources … brought on by presumption reaching the point of arrogance,” Snorkel Bob Foundation Executive Director Robert Wintner said yesterday.

The council — which makes policies to manage fisheries in federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) surrounding Hawai‘i and other U.S. Pacific islands — has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The allegations against the council are meritless, Wespac Vice Chairman Edwin Ebisui, Jr., said.

The two sides continue to spar through Hawai‘i media outlets with no resolution in sight.

“We’re definitely sticking it out,” Wintner said.

The Snorkel Bob Foundation, Na Imi Pono, the Hawai‘i Audubon Society, the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and Marine Conservation Biology Institute jointly asked Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation to oversee Wespac.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Network Campaign Director Keiko Bonk wrote a 15-page letter dated May 21 to U.S. Inspector General Johnnie Frazier. It alleges a history of Wespac abuses and calls for an investigation.

Frazier could not be reached for comment at press time.

Look to the pages of The Garden Island in the coming months for updates as this story develops.

• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.