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A fisherman was slapped with a $205 fine last week for catching six undersize papio with a hand line in the Diamond Head area in September.
Environmental Court Judge Linda Luke in Honolulu District Court imposed the fine on Konsida Pelep on July 8, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources reported.
The state conservation officer inspecting Pelep’s catch found six undersize papio, which is what juvenile ulua are called. The largest of Pelep’s six fish measured 9 inches and weighed less than 2 pounds.
It is illegal to take papio/ulua under 10 inches. Commercial sale of papio/ulua under 16 inches is also prohibited.
Violation of the papio/ulua size limit is a petty misdemeanor, and violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. A first offense carries a minimum fine of $100.
“Papio are an important species to recreational, commercial and subsistence fishers,” said Jason Redulla, acting chief of
DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. “While they’re very resilient to fishing pressure as a species, we can’t have a sustainable fishery if they aren’t allowed to reach spawning size.”
“Fishers and divers have the unique ability to positively impact resources by being selective with what they take,” Redulla added. “When compliance rates are high, size limit regulations have resulted in more abundant fisheries, so we encourage the public to take only fish that are above the legal limit.”
Information about state fisheries rules and regulations are available in fishing supply stores and online at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-
regulations.
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