HONOLULU –Another milestone was reached today, as teams from the Anuenue Fisheries Research Center (AFRC), a facility of the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), planted the 200,000th juvenile sea urchin in Oahu’s Kaneohe Bay. Over the past three years, AFRC has successfully spawned and raised collector urchins in captivity with the express purpose of releasing them in the bay as part of an ecosystem-based management plan and for environmental mitigation work.
Aquatic Resources
HONOLULU –A state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officer cited a fisherman for using a throw net with mesh of less than two inches in waters off Aina Haina on Feb. 5. The officer spotted the man fishing with a throw net from shore while on routine patrol.
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.
HONOLULU –The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) are advising people to be “dolphin smart.”To avoid potential harassment of spinner dolphins, ocean and beach goers should keep the recommended distance of 150 feet (50 yards) when observing dolphins in the wild. Hawaiian spinner dolphins move near shore into bays and coves during the day to rest, care for their young, and avoid predators. During this time it is important not to disturb them as these activities are critical to their survival. At night they move offshore to feed.
LIHUE, Kauai – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is responding to and investigating reports received on Monday of between 500-800 dead and dying lanternfish (Myctophid) and squid near Nawiliwili.
KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII -- A coral species new to the main Hawaiian Islands has been discovered in West Hawaii by a research team of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources divers, under the leadership of senior biologist Dr. Bill Walsh.
HONOLULU – With the new year, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) launched a newly recast and mobile-friendly freshwater fishing license website. Facilitated by Abercrombie Administration efforts to modernize and transform state technology infrastructure, this online resource allows Hawaii residents and non-residents to purchase a license required to fish in the state’s freshwater streams and waters from their computer or mobile device.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area, O‘ahu, to fishing for one year beginning Jan. 1, 2014, and ending Dec.31, 2014. The Fisheries Management Area encompasses the nearshore waters between the ‘Ewa wall of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium and the Diamond Head Lighthouse, from the high-water mark on shore to a minimum seaward distance of 500 yards, or to the edge of the fringing reef if one occurs beyond 500 yards.
KAUNAKAKAI – The Department of Land and Natural Resources invites the public to attend an information meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, regarding a community proposal to designate Mo‘omomi as a Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area. The proposal consists of a management plan and proposed fishing rules to protect the island’s subsistence fisheries for future generations. The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center at 90 Ainoa St. in Kaunakakai.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is asking the public to comply with state and federal “no feeding, no approach” rules to protect a Hawaiian monk seal pup that has recently been seen in harbors along Oahu’s south shore. This 8-month-old seal with red flipper tags N36/N37 was born in May 2013 on the reef runway beach outside of Keehi lagoon. Also known as “U`ilani” (which means royal beauty in Hawaiian), it has recently been seen in Keehi, Kewalo, and Ala Wai small boat harbors interacting with boat owners and resting under the docks. She may also have been seen in Honolulu harbor.