The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimous decision to ban sea cucumber harvesting for 120 days was signed into law by Governor David Ige Friday evening. This video chronicles the entire board discussion and public testimony about the emergency rule making harvesting illegal; giving the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources the next four months to develop a permanent set of rules.

(HONOLULU) – The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR)approved a rule today to make it illegal to take any species of sea cucumber from Hawaii State waters for the next 120 days. This is in response to an investigation by officers of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), who confirmed that a new commercial fishery recently started. The investigation was supported further by public observations. Governor David Ige is expected to quickly follow the BLNR approval by signing the emergency administrative rules.

WAILUKU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) invites the Moloka‘i community and interested parties to an informational meeting concerning a proposed fencing and management project in the Waikolu Valley and Pu‘u Ali‘i Natural Area Reserve areas. The purpose of the proposed project is to protect the natural resources of the Pu‘u Ali‘i Natural Area Reserve (NAR) while improving hunting opportunities within the Moloka‘i Forest Reserve hunting units. The fence will help to prevent entry of pigs, goats and deerinto the NAR and help to prevent erosion into nearshore waters, protect fisheries and water supplies, and conserve native Hawaiian plants and wildlife.

Honolulu –Nearly two miles of ungulate proof fencing, surrounding the Pu’u Maka’ ala Natural Area Reserve (NAR), built in the early part of this decade, was recently cut and destroyed by vandals. Ungulate fencing is intended to keep feral goats, pigs and other invasive animals away from native plants. This is not the first time fencing in two units within this Hawaii Island Natural (NAR) was vandalized. Aroutine inspection of the fencing by NAR staff from the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) revealed that vandals had cut through multiple sections of fence at intervals of 5-10 meters top to bottom.

LIHU‘E — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will open this year’s season for plum harvesting at Koke‘e State Park, Kaua‘i on Friday, July 3. “This year the plum crop is poor and small,” said Dan Quinn, State Parks administrator.

KONA — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks will conduct early closures of three West Hawaii parks on the Fourth of July holiday.

All State Historic Preservation Division Offices will be closed on the following days: June 24, June 25, July 1, and July 2. The State Historic Preservation Division will conduct a four day Workshop with SHPD and DLNR staff, as well as Historic Preservation stakeholders from other agencies and preservation organizations on June 24-25 and July 1-2, 2015.

(HONOLULU) – The Department of Land and Natural Resources has been investigating and has now confirmed a new commercial fishery in which mass harvesting of sea cucumbers is occurring on both Oahu and Maui. Additionally, recent reports from the public confirm the harvesting of large quantities of sea cucumber on both Oahu and Maui. While taking sea cucumbers from the ocean is not against the law, any commercial harvesting does require a license.

DOFAW has posted the 2015 Lanai Mouflon sheep lottery results in the document below.

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- June is National Great Outdoors Month! Started in 1998 by President Bill Clinton, it is a month for people around the country to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty around us. Surrounded by ocean and full of freshwater rivers and streams, fishing is one of the best ways to enjoy the natural resources of Kaua‘i.