HONOLULU — Federal and state officials will be on Kaua‘i Tuesday to explain new deep ocean fishing rules. In preparation for the Sept. 1 opening of the main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources,
HONOLULU — Federal and state officials will be on Kaua‘i Tuesday to explain new deep ocean fishing rules.
In preparation for the Sept. 1 opening of the main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the National Marine Fisheries Service will hold free statewide public workshops on the new bottomfish fishery rules and regulations, a state DLNR release states.
The workshops will feature interactive booths with information on the new state annual bottomfish vessel registration and new state commercial bottomfish reporting requirements.
In addition, there will be information on the changes to the bottomfish Deep-7 annual quota from a total allowable catch to an annual catch limit and what this means. Plus information on the federal non-commercial bottomfish permit and reporting program.
A forum will also be conducted by council staff on the options for non-commercial fishery data collection.
Admission is free, and parking will be validated where applicable.
Locations and dates for the statewide workshops:
Aug. 9, Puhi, Kaua‘i 6-9 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi.
Aug. 11, Pa‘ia, Maui 6-9 p.m. Pa‘ia Community Center, Social Hall Hana Highway.
Aug. 16, Molokai 6-9 p.m. Hale Kulana O‘iwi Multi-Cultural Center
Aug. 18, Lanai 6-9 p.m. Lanai Community Center.
Workshops were held in July in Hilo and Kona and on Wednesday in Honolulu.
For more information about the Federal regulations call: National Marine Fisheries Service at (808) 944-2200 or Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at (808) 522-8220.
Call the Division of Aquatic Resources at (808) 587-0084 for information about the new state commercial bottomfish reporting requirements and annual bottomfish vessel registration. Call (808) 587-0092 for questions about all other new state bottomfish regulations.
Visit www.hawaiibottomfish.info for more information on the workshops.
