DLNR seizes suspected illegal lay nets filled with undersized fish, coral
COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Divison of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers seized the illegal lay nets Friday morning during a routine patrol on Sand Island.
COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Divison of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers inspected seven bags Friday and discovered four bags filled with an estimated 100 undersized fish and live coral.
COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Divison of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers seized the illegal lay nets Friday morning during a routine patrol on Sand Island.
Suspected illegal lay net nearly 1,000 feet long was confiscated Friday on Sand Island by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Around 6:30 a.m., state DLNR’s Divison of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers spotted a man tending to several large bags during their routine patrol on the shoreline adjacent to La Mariana Sailing Club. Officers suspected the bags contained what appeared to be lay nets.
The officers inspected seven bags and discovered four bags filled with an estimated 100 undersized fish and live coral. The fish included papio, kala and moi.
The officers seized the nets and slapped Salt Lake resident Gary Shigematshu, 47, with 10 citations.
The state Division of Aquatic Resources regulates the use of lay nets, including prohibiting multi-panel lay nets and restricting the use of lay nets in freshwater streams or stream mouths. It is illegal to fish with more than one lay net at a time.
Lay nets are prohibited within three miles of the shoreline around Maui and in the waters off Oahu from Kawaihoa Point to Keahi Point, Mokapu Point to Wailea Point, Kaneohe Bay between the sampan and ship channels.
Officers are reminding the public about practicing responsible and legal netting to help protect and conserve Hawaii’s natural resources. Anyone may report suspicious activity by downloading the DLNRTip app or by calling the statewide hotline at 643-3567.
