Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release October 7, 2013

DLNR ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS REMOVE GIANT LAYNET,
HARMFUL NET BALLS FROM KANE‘OHE BAY WATERS

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) continues to monitor nearshore waters for presence of fishing nets – to ensure they are being properly employed – and to check for abandoned or derelict nets that can cause damage to coral reefs and habitat for fish and other important marine life.

Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers on O‘ahu located and retrieved two illegal laynets in Kane‘ohe Bay this summer that totaled more than 1,200 feet long.

With the help of the public, DOCARE officers also removed several derelict net balls comprised of different types of tangled net whose weight can destroy coral reefs as they roll around in the waves.

“The public can help prevent damage to our coral reefs and waste of marine life in our ocean environment by reporting abandoned nets or entangled marine life to DOCARE at 643-DLNR. Fishers can also help by registering and tagging their lay nets and following state soak time and checking time rules,” urged William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson.

In September, officers observed and removed an illegal net in Kane‘ohe Bay* that measured about 220 feet long by 7 feet wide. Its mesh was less than the legal 2 ¾ inches mesh size, with several small fish caught in it. Another monofilament lay net reported off La‘ie and measuring approximately 150 feet long and consisting of three panels, was also seized that month for multiple violations, including lack of registration tags and soak time exceeding four hours.

To use a lay net, it must be registered with the Division of Aquatic Resources, have tags attached to show ownership, and measure no more than 125 feet long. Lay nets must be checked after two hours soak time and be removed after four hours total soak time. Lay nets may not be used during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise. For more information about lay net use rules, go to the Division of Aquatic Resources website, Regulated Gear page, at https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regulated_gear.html.

In August, officers responded to a report of a large net with floats about 300 yards offshore near Makai Pier in Waimanalo. A 6- to 8-foot tangle of mixed net types was then cut loose and removed and later taken to a net recycling collection point at Pier 38. A DOCARE officer also responded to a report of an abandoned, untagged gill net off Kawai Kui beach park, which was also removed.

In July, a 1,100-foot net was found when DOCARE officers responded to a complaint of a lay net left in the ocean at Hau‘ula. Officers waited to see who would respond to check the net and looked for someone matching a reported description. The illegal net consisted of seven pieces of 7-foot wide monofilament mesh tied together totaling 1,100 feet long. It did not have the required tags and exceeded the legal length of 125 feet. The suspects in the case were not located, and officers picked up and removed the net from ocean waters.

Commercial operators and other boaters also retrieved four large net balls composed of mixed monofilament and cargo nets that totaled about 3,400 pounds and turned these over to DLNR enforcement and boating officials at He‘eia Kea small boat harbor. Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation staff took the nets to a net recycling collection point.

*See news release “Hau‘ula fisherman sentenced for multiple fishing violations in windward waters,” Oct. 7, 2013 https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/

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Deborah Ward,
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320