Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Honolulu) – Today, the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) agreed to a request from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to reopen four of twelve Bottomfish Restricted Areas (BRFAs) in the Main Hawaiian Islands. These restricted areas were first established in 1998 to provide refuge for what are known as the deep-7 bottomfish species.

(Honolulu) – The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area (SFMA), O‘ahu, will be closed to fishing for one year, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019.

(Honolulu) – Hawaii-based marine and animal protection organizations have joined forces with the Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources to make it easier for people to report illegal aquarium collecting activity across the state.

(Honolulu) – The wreckage of a Robinson R44 helicopter was airlifted out of waist deep water in Kaneohe Bay just before noon today.  Two DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers assisted a rigger from Pacific Helicopters in getting straps and ropes around the chopper, which had turned on one side during or after the accident.

(HONOLULU) – The contributions of hunters and fishers to conservation were again recognized nationally and in Hawai‘i during National Hunting and Fishing Day events. This was Hawai‘i’s 28th year of recognizing the event and for the first-time activities were scheduled over two separate weekends.

 (Honolulu) - The saga of a juvenile koholā (humpback whale) that began in January 1986 when it stranded on the shore of Kūheia on the island of Kanaloa Kahoʻoawe, came to a meaningful closing on August 15, 2018 (Kūpau Moon).

(Honolulu) - A juvenile whale shark that was entangled with heavy rope in recent weeks has been freed. On Sunday a group of free divers located the whale shark off Kaunolū, Lānaʻi and after five dives were able to successfully cut the line.

(Honolulu) -The U.S. Coast Guard Barbers Point Air Station provided space on a low-flying C-130 plane to DLNR representatives today to look for any green sea turtles that could be trapped by lava flowing into the ocean on the coast near Kapoho Bay and the Pohoiki Boat Ramp.

(Honolulu) – Recent social media posts have shown photos and expressions of concern for sea turtles reportedly trapped or affected by the East Rift Zone Eruption on Hawai‘i island, in the Kapoho and Pohoiki areas.  DLNR and NOAA Fisheries are aware of these postings but so far there has been little actionable information.

(Honolulu)  A juvenile whale shark with heavy gauge line wrapped around its mid-section was spotted a second time this week.  Initial reports of the entangled whale shark were received on Sunday off Olowalu and then on Thursday several commercial snorkel/dive tour companies reported the shark on the backside of Molokini, off Maui’s south shore.