Department of Land and Natural Resources proposes rule changes for Maui fishing

KAHULUI >> Proposed rule amendments that would restrict certain commercial fishing activities in the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area and increase the size limit for oama caught in Maui waters should provide a more user-friendly experience for recreational fishers, according to state officials.

The calm, protected waters of the harbor make it a safe place for kupuna, keiki and others to fish from the sandy shoreline or its rock jetties and breakwaters, according to Russell Sparks of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources branch on Maui.

The proposed changes would ban use of all nets within the Kahului Harbor FMA, removing existing exceptions for the commercial take of nehu, akule and juvenile mullet — activities that often created conflicts between harbor users, Sparks said. Crab netting also would no longer be allowed.

However, landing nets with a stretched mesh of at least 2 inches that are used to secure hooked fish would be permitted, along with hand nets no larger than 8 inches in diameter and with a handle no more than 14 inches in length.

Additionally, use of artificial lures with double or triple hooks would be allowed. Current rules ban hooks with more than one point.

And fishers would no longer be required to check in and report their catch in a log at an unmanned station at the harbor.

Sparks said the check-in station, established in 2009, was intended as “an experiment on our part to engage fishermen a little more and manage the resource” by collecting data on fishing activities. But lacking criminal penalties for failing to report in, it became more of a voluntary exercise for many fishers, he said.

“A lot of fishermen didn’t want to be bothered or didn’t think they had to report if they didn’t catch anything,” Sparks said. “We finally gave up on it.”

Proposed amendments to oama fishing rules throughout Maui would expand the definition of oama — which are caught by hook and line as baitfish or for eating — to include two species of juvenile goatfish: weke a (Mul­loidichthys flavolineatus) and weke ula (Mulloidichthys vanicolensis), which are difficult to distinguish at smaller sizes.

The changes also would increase the maximum catch size for oama from 5 inches to 8 inches.

“We heard from fishermen that the existing rules limiting oama to 5 inches was problematic, and they worried that if they caught fish that were slightly bigger than that they would get in trouble,” Sparks said.

During a virtual public hearing Wednesday on the proposed rule changes, Adam Wong of DAR’s Maui branch said some fishers had been cited for the “simple mistake” of catching fish a little bigger than the 5-inch limit.

“This will allow fishers to participate in the popular oama fishery without inadvertently breaking the rules,” he said.

The Kahului Harbor FMA was created in 1984, with various updates over the years. These latest proposed rule changes to the harbor rules (Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 13-51) and Maui oama rules (HAR Chapter 13-95.1) underwent public scoping meetings in February 2019, and the Board of Land and Natural Resources in May of this year approved a public hearing on the amendments.

No one testified at Wednesday’s virtual public hearing, but written testimony will be accepted until July 30. Once approved by the BLNR, and after a legal review by the state attorney general’s office, the rule changes will be sent to Gov. David Ige for final approval.

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Maui fishing rules

Review proposed rule amendments for the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area and Maui oama fishing at 808ne.ws/3ergsXh. Written testimony should be submitted by July 30 via email to DLNR.aquatics@hawaii.gov or by regular mail to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330, Honolulu HI 96813.