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 February 28, 2014 

EWA FISHERMAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL LAY NET
IN THE WAIKELE STREAM-WEST LOCH AREA

HONOLULU —An Ewa fisherman was found guilty of violating state laynet fishing rules and fined $500 in Ewa District Court on Feb. 19, 2014.

Allen Zamora was cited by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) for possession of illegal lay nets in the Waikele Stream-West Loch area on Dec. 14, 2013.

A DLNR DOCARE officer on routine patrol in the area observed a small pick-up truck with a boat and multiple nets in the bed of the truck. A subsequent investigation led to DLNR officers citing the owner of the nets for violation of Hawaii Administrative Rule Chapter 13-75-12.4(a)(1) for use of unregistered lay nets, and use of lay nets longer than 125 feet.

State law requires that lay nets must be registered with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), and must have registration tags attached at each end of the float line and the lead line (four attachment points per net). Minimum legal size for mesh is 2-3/4 inch stretched, and maximum net size is 125 feet long and seven feet high. For more information on rules for lay net use, go to https://state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/regulated_gear.html  or call any Division of Aquatic Resources office.

“Through the hard work of our DOCARE officers and with the valued assistance of the City Prosecutor’s office, these illegal activities and their negative impacts to Hawaii’s natural resources were successfully prosecuted,”said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson.

Aila added, “DLNR thanks Keith Kaneshiro and the City Prosecutor’s office for their efforts to obtain more meaningful outcomes in the adjudication of natural resources violations.”

Prosecuting Attorney Keith M. Kaneshiro said, “Enforcing conservation laws is important because they help to protect our environment. We are committed to assisting DLNR in its efforts to find and cite violators and to preserve Hawaii’s precious natural resources.”

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Media Contact:

Deborah Ward
Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320