Office of Land and Natural Resources: I am a condominium owner in Princeville. During the week of May 14 a commercial fishing boat anchored near shore in Hanalei Bay and proceeded to string fishing nets approximately 75-100 yards long from
Office of Land and Natural Resources:
I am a condominium owner in
Princeville.
During the week of May 14 a commercial fishing boat anchored
near shore in Hanalei Bay and proceeded to string fishing nets approximately
75-100 yards long from the boat to shore. Over several days they netted tons of
fish.
Is this method of fishing legal in Hanalei Bay? Is it
authorized?
When this boat left after several days, they discarded
substantial amounts of dead fish and other garbage into the Bay near the
shoreline. Almost immediately, sharks (approximately one dozen) came to this
location and remained several days. They were in the range of 12 feet and I am
told these were tiger sharks. Enclosed is a copy of an article in the Garden
Isle newspaper.
As a result, Hanalei Bay was closed for several days to
swimmers, surfers, kayakers, locals and tourists. This close in fishing and
dumping created an extremely dangerous situation, which could expose our
government agencies to substantial liabilities, somewhat similar to the recent
forest service fires in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
The local lifeguards did a
good job of trying to warn people and are to be commended. May I have a
response to this complaint? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gene F.
Reardon
Colorado
