Through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress and NOAA have allocated an additional $3.6 million to eligible Hawaii fishery participants affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Applications for “Round 2” CARES Act assistance will be available beginning Monday, August 16, 2021, through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) website. Applications must be submitted to ...
Read More “Round 2” CARES Act funding for Hawaii‘i’s commercial fishing industry – applications available next week
Four years ago a cross-section of Maunalua Bay stakeholders, recognizing that fish is food and that sustainable fishing is a must, submitted a request to DLNR to establish a Fisheries Management Area (FMA) within Maunalua Bay, O‘ahu. After four years of collaboration among fishers, community groups, conservation groups, and the Department of Land and Natural ...
Read More Stakeholders seek to set the course to sustainable fishing in Maunalua Bay
Stay up-to-date with Hawai‘i’s fishing regulations with the Fish Rules mobile app. This convenient and easy-to-use app provides current regulations for both fresh and saltwater species as well as images that help you identify them. Enable the GPS function to also display area-specific and seasonal rules while fishing, or switch to the manual setting to ...
Read More Fish Rules mobile app now available for Hawai‘i
On June 8 Gov. Ige signed into law House Bill 1023 which establishes and requires a marine recreational fishing license for all non-Hawaii residents. However, DLNR must first adopt an administrative rule to that effect and set up a licensing system. That process could take up to a year to complete. In the meantime, non-residents ...
Read More Non-resident marine recreational fishing license approved but not yet required
The 2021 legislative session was a busy one for the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). We tracked 95 bills,17 of which were eventually passed and sent on to the governor for signature. The governor has until July 11 to sign or veto the bills; if he does neither, a bill becomes law without his signature. ...
Read More Aquatic Resources 2021 Legislative Wrap-up
Can I collect marine life for aquariums to sell for commercial purposes? No. On January 12, 2021, the First Circuit Court in Kaupiko, et al. v. DLNR (CIV. NO 1CCV-20-0000125) ruled that all Commercial Marine Licenses issued pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §189-2 are invalid, illegal, and void to the extent that such licenses permit ...
Read More Frequently asked questions about taking, breeding, and transporting marine life for aquariums
The Division of Aquatic Resources is pleased to announce the opening of the 2021 Rainbow Trout Season in the Kōke‘e Public Fishing Area on Kauaʻi. Due to COVID-19, there will be a lottery system in place for opening weekend (June 19-20), then the season will open as usual on June 21 from 6 am to 6 ...
Read More 2021 Rainbow Trout Fishing Season at Kōke‘e Opens June 19 with Lottery System
The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will request approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, at its May 14 meeting, to hold a public hearing to update rules relating to the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area (FMA), Maui, and to the take and possession of ‘oama on the island of Maui. The Kahului ...
Read More Proposal to amend Maui fishing regulations for Kahului Harbor and ‘oama
On January 12, 2021 Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Crabtree ruled that all commercial aquarium fishing is completely banned in the State of Hawaiʻi, unless and until the aquarium fishing industry has completed the Chapter 343 environmental review process. The ruling was made in response to a request by aquarium fishing opponents. Anyone who takes ...
Read More Commercial fishers notified that all aquarium collection is banned
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a statewide online public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), O‘ahu. The amendment modifies the existing Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) to reflect the accurate coordinates of DAR’s jurisdiction and boundary descriptions by including the Kapo‘o tidepool area; clarify ...
Read More Public hearing scheduled for January 19 on proposed rule changes to Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District, O‘ahu