LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i scientists and the Department of Land and Natural Resources in recent weeks have explained the rationale behind stopping a popular program that provided rainbow trout to the Koke‘e Public Fishing Area. “The best way to approach this
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i scientists and the Department of Land and Natural Resources in recent weeks have explained the rationale behind stopping a popular program that provided rainbow trout to the Koke‘e Public Fishing Area.
“The best way to approach this is we need to focus on restoring, enhancing our native ecosystems, not introduce things that cost money to keep them going,” said Don Heacock, aquatic biologist for DLNR’s Aquatics Division on Kaua‘i, in a phone interview. “It’s way cheaper and more ecologically sound than trying to manipulate the stock by managing a hatchery.”
Freshwater trout and catfish restocking programs, including hatchery operations at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Center at Sand Island, were stopped by DLNR on July 1, a decision supported by Heacock and Dr. Carl Berg, a North Shore marine biologist.
“(DLNR Chair Laura) Thielen understands that freshwater fishing resources are not really in the mandate of the DLNR,” Berg said in a recent phone interview. “DLNR is coming to a point where there are Hawaiian natural resources that are extremely at risk that we are charged to protect. I’m hopeful that the DLNR is going to start to manage those resources better.”
DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said the Anuenue facility spent $121,600 in general funds in Fiscal Year 2008, and there were federal matching funds at a 3-to-1 ratio. Ward said DLNR’s Fiscal Year 2010 first-quarter budget cut of 14 percent were forcing DLNR to stop projects “in favor of core activities and a focus on resource conservation.”
While the project was ended on July 1, its impacts on Kaua‘i will likely not be felt until next year. The 2009 fishing season ends in September, but the reservoir will not be replenished, as the hatchery will not be receiving baby trout from California going forward.
The news of the program’s ending prompted fishing advocates like the Hawai‘i chapter of Trout Unlimited to question DLNR’s decision.
For more information, call the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources at 274-3344 or visit www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar.
• Michael Levine, assistant news editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mlevine@kauaipubco.com
