HONOLULU – In order to try and prevent potential resource damage and to ensure that any damage is repaired, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) and Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) are closely monitoring the salvage operation of a Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) vessel that grounded in Lahaina Harbor on Monday.
Aquatic Resources
HONOLULU – Many of the coral colonies around the Main Hawaiian Islands, impacted by a late 2014 bleaching event are showing signs of recovery. Bleaching is a stress response, which causes corals to lose algae and color from their tissue, making them appear snow white. The fall bleaching of corals in 2014; mostly in shallow waters off Oahu, Kauai, and Maui was caused when sea temperatures spiked at 86 degrees.
KANEOHE – A Kaneohe fisherman was found guilty of two lay net fishing violations on Jan. 8, 2015 at Kaneohe District Court and was sentenced to 7 days jail and the court ordered his nets seized.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the closing of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area, O‘ahu, to fishing for one year beginning Jan. 1, 2015, and ending Dec.31, 2015.
WAILUKU –Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) Enforcement Officers and Makai Watch volunteers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Community Fisheries Enforcement Unit (CFEU) will be at the Maui Mall this Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help educate fishers about the new Maui Island fishing rules that became law on November 1.
Honolulu - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with the Conservation Council for Hawaii, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Monk Seal Foundation are now rewarding $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the illegal killing of a baby monk seal in Anahola, Kauai on November 30, 2014. That’s double the initial reward offered by HSUS after the killing was announced yesterday.
LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), is investigating the suspicious death of a Hawaiian monk seal on the Northeast coast of Kauai. Anyone with information about this incident should call the toll-free, confidential reward tip line, 1-855-DLNR-TIP
HONOLULU -- The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, State Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Federal NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold public meetings on potential Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep-7 bottomfish fishery rules and regulations and changes to minimum size limits for the sale of Ahi.
HONOLULU -- On October 30, 2014, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) team divers placed another 6,000 hatchery raised sea urchins on selected reefs in Kaneohe Bay. This is another milestone in the battle against invasive seaweeds threatening to smother coral patch reefs in Kaneohe Bay.
KAHULUI -- New state fishing rules regulating the take and possession of uhu (parrotfish) and goatfish on Maui island take effect on November 1, 2014, following signature into law by Governor Neil Abercrombie.
