(Hilo) – One of the most rugged and hard-to-reach beaches in Hawai‘i has been infamously dubbed “plastic beach, trash beach and rubbish beach.” Not so long ago the strips of white sand at Kamilo Point on Hawai‘i Island were chest-high in plastic debris, off all sizes, shapes and variety; washed ashore by ocean currents.
Aquatic Resources
(Honolulu) – Personnel from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), in consultation with the former director of the International Shark Attack File, have ruled out a tiger shark as having been involved in Tuesday’s incident at Anaeho‘omalu Bay on Hawai‘i Island, in which a California woman was bitten on her leg.
(Honolulu) – In the coming days and months it’s going to be hard to avoid the phrase, “Mālama Hawai‘i," when flying, staying in a hotel room, watching TV or enjoying the outdoors throughout the Hawaiian Islands. DLNR and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) have partnered to launch Mālama Hawai‘i, a comprehensive campaign designed to educate and remind visitors and kama‘āina about being respectful of the islands’ natural resources, protecting wildlife, and staying safe at all times while in Hawai‘i.
(Honolulu) – Nearly one thousand feet of suspected illegal lay net was confiscated by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) this morning. This, after a DOCARE officer on routine patrol on the shoreline adjacent to the La Mariana Sailing Club Restaurant on Sand Island, spotted a man tending several large bags at about 6:30.The officer suspected the bags were filled with what appeared to be lay nets.
(Honolulu) – A 75-year-old man received wounds to his leg after 10:00 a.m. in an apparent shark encounter. The Hawai‘i County Fire Dept. received the report from an isolated area between ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay and Keawaiki in the Waikoloa area of north Hawai‘i.
(Honolulu) –Brian Neilson has been appointed the next administrator of the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). Neilson has held a variety of staff and leadership positions with DAR. He has been Acting DAR Administrator since June of last year.
(Wailuku, Maui) – New evidence suggests that some marine predators are being displaced by high human use at the Molokini Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), which in 2018 attracted more than 360,000 snorkelers and divers. At an information and scoping meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2019 staff from the DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), will present details of recent scientific studies and learn about management concerns for Molokini Crater.
(Hilo) - After seeing schools of pua ʻamaʻama (juvenile mullet) swim by in a muliwai (estuary) or a fishpond you may think that all is well. Unfortunately, you are likely looking at an invasive mullet, especially if it’s less than eight inches long.
(Kahului) –The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is hosting a upcoming meeting on Wednesday February 20, 2019 from 5:00-7:00pm at Lihikai Elementary School on 335 South Papa Avenue in Kahului.
(Honolulu) – Experts from state and federal agencies have agreed that the best option for a whale carcass found stuck on a reef in Kaneohe Bay on Tuesday, is to leave it where it’s at for now. The large and badly decomposed whale carcass is on a patch reef in the northern part of the bay, about a mile off shore. It appears at this time that winds and waves will not bring it into land.