Proposed fishing moratorium at Kaupulehu moves forward
KAILUA-KONA >> A proposed 10-year moratorium on harvesting fish along 3.6 miles of west Hawaii coastline is moving forward with the goal of helping populations recover.
West Hawaii Today reports land and natural resources officials approved a marine reserve at Kaupulehu protecting fish, reef structure, coral and algae from removal up to 120 feet deep.
The plan has specific exceptions, and requires the attorney general’s approval and the governor’s signature.
Petitions and comments were mostly supportive.
Opponents worry about access and whether the moratorium is necessary.
People have been in a years-long push to create the reserve.
Supporters say the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and Queen Kaahumanu Highway opened access and led to the exploitation of reef in the area.
A plan for subsistence fishery management is also in the works.
4 responses to “Proposed fishing moratorium at Kaupulehu moves forward”
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Subsistence fishery means locals would be exempted. So would people like NOAA and other Federal, regional, State, and local organizations and politicians and other important people, scientists, UH and other academic institutes, and their family and friends. The only people to be excluded are people trying to make a living by fishing or trying to enjoy nature.
Outstanding. Fully support establishing a fishing moratorium at Kaupulehu. Was involved in the development of the Four Seasons Resorts and experienced the reefs and natural habitat when only Kona Village existed. This area of the Hawaii Island must be retained and managed.
The state can’t, or won’t, enforce the fish and game laws… mostly because they don’t have enough enforcement officers. So when the going gets tough, it is so much easier to just close the area to all fishing, rather than having science based regulations and enforcement. Sad.
More areas will need to be preserved because fishermen are so greedy. Enforcement officers will need to be trained in drone use.