HONOLULU — Friday, Gov. David Ige signed House Bill 1023 into law. It establishes and requires a marine recreational fishing license for all non-Hawai‘i residents.
Visitors will need to purchase licenses in order to fish from the shoreline or boat in Hawaiian waters.
Charter-boat clients are included in the new law, which took effect upon Ige’s signing.
However, the bill requires the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources to first adopt a corresponding administrative rule and a licensing system. This process could take close to a year to complete.
According to DAR Administrator Brian Neilson, the bill was a component of an administrative package submitted to the 2021 Legislature by DLNR. “Marine-fishing opportunities attract thousands of visitors each year, including tournament professionals. Visitors will gladly pay to fish premier fisheries and support fisheries management in Hawai‘i,” said Neilson.
Most states require fishing licenses, so getting a license should prove routine for most fishers.
Revenues generated by license sales will help support fishing opportunities and provide state-matching funds for the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program.
By law, revenues will be put into a special fund that can only be used for sport-fish management. Recreational-fishing license revenues must, by law, be deposited into a special fund, and may be used only for sport-fish management. DAR has a number of continuing sport-fish-restoration projects, including fish aggregating devices, artificial reefs, fish stocking and others which benefit recreational fishers.
No licenses are needed for children 15 and younger and active military, their spouses and families.
Out-of-state fishing-license fees are $20 for one day, $40 for seven days and $70 for an annual license:
The DLNR has the option of increasing fees, but not more than once every five years. Increases must be tied to the consumer price index. It’s estimated that, once up and running, fees from fishing licenses for non-residents will generate upwards of $1 million annually.
So they don’t go back to China and sell it. Stealing it from Hawai’i.
It’s about time. But why no license for locals/residents??? Local fishing practices are the most harmful. No catch and release. Small illegal nets catching all the babies. No DLNR enforcement. Stop blaming visitors (whitey) for damages to fisheries.
Unfortunately, most of these funds will be lost in bureaucracy.
“…for required for non-residents.” Um. What? I’m pretty sure that makes no sense, did you lose your proofreader? Or you just don’t care?
Outstanding Law. Need to protect our resources. About time.