HONOLULU — A report has been delivered to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources from a group of experts and organizations with interest in establishing non-commercial fishing licenses in Hawaii. The independent group met six times this year
HONOLULU — A report has been delivered to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources from a group of experts and organizations with interest in establishing non-commercial fishing licenses in Hawaii.
The independent group met six times this year and studied the potential benefits and impacts of different forms of a non-commercial marine fishing registry, permit, or license system.
Participants included the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Conservation International, fisheries resources managers, experts and representatives from different fishing organizations and interest groups.
The study group interviewed fisheries managers from other coastal states, conducted a detailed economic feasibility analysis, and consulted with legal experts, including an expert in native Hawaiian law.
”This group specifically focused on the ability of a potential system to meet three primary fishery objectives,” said Bruce Anderson, DAR administrator. “It is indeed a thorough and well-researched document. We are impressed with the way all the members worked together throughout the project.”
Those three objectives are to provide additional and more robust data to support fisheries management; to foster more dialogue between fishers and managers; and to create a continuous source of independent funding to support effective fisheries management.
LIHUE — A public scoping meeting to prepare for fishing rules for the newly expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at ChiefessKamakahelei Middle School. The meeting, hosted by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, will cover topics such as the presidential executive order that prohibitscommercial fishing and regulates non-commercial and Native Hawaiian subsistence fishing.
