Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

For Immediate News Release January 23, 2015      

KANEOHE – A Kaneohe fisherman was found guilty of two lay net fishing violations on Jan. 8, 2015 at Kaneohe District Court and was sentenced to 7 days jail and the court ordered his nets seized. 

On July 20, 2014, Bryan Okawa, 53, was cited by Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) for using unregistered and illegal-sized lay nets in the waters of Kaneohe Bay.   

Hawaii Administrative Rules (H.A.R.) 13-75-12.4(a)(1) relates to the registration of lay nets with DLNR.  H.A.R. 13-75-12.4(a)(2) relates to the length, height, and mesh size of lay nets.  These violations are petty misdemeanors, each punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. 

At the time, an anonymous caller reported a potential lay net violation in the area.  DOCARE officers responded to the scene and observed Okawa laying net that appeared to exceed the legal length of 125 feet.  Upon investigation officers discovered that Okawa had laid 1550 feet of unregistered lay net in Kaneohe Bay. 

For more information on fishing regulations, please refer to DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources’ website located at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar. 

To report potential conservation violations, call Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) at 643-DLNR. 

Media Contact: 
Deborah Ward 
Public Information Specialist 
(808) 587-0320