BOARD APPROVES FIRST COMMUNITY BASED FISHERIES SUBSISTENCE AREA; Near Unanimous Support from Haena Community Results In Historic Decision

Posted on Oct 24, 2014 in Announcements, slider

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE
GOVERNOR
WILLIAM J. AILA JR,
CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release October 24, 2014 

BOARD APPROVES FIRST COMMUNITY BASED FISHERIES SUBSISTENCE AREA 
Near Unanimous Support from Haena Community Results In Historic Decision 

CBFSA-Support

Photos from today’s BLNR meeting: Courtesy: DLNR 
 

HONOLULU – The state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR)  today unanimously approved Hawaii’s first ever Community Based Fisheries Subsistence Area (CBFSA) rule package for Haena on the island of Kauai.  BLNR Chairperson William Alia said, “This is an historic action, following years of work by the Haena community in collaboration with Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) staff. This rules package gives the Haena hui an opportunity to protect its fisheries, based on traditional and customary practices. Native Hawaiians knew how to practice sustainability in order to feed their ohanas. This is strong recognition by government that we cannot do it alone and community-based management and buy-in is critical to sustaining Hawaii’s precious natural resources for now and future generations.”

The community worked hand-in-hand with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to develop this rules package. DAR administrator Frazer McGilvray said, The CBFSA sets the precedent for other communities across the state to self-determine what’s best for their local areas based on long-held sustainability practices. Community based management isn’t only the past, but is now the future.” 

A hearing on Oct. 3, 2014 at Haena was attended by hundreds of people. Dozens of people testified before the BLNR today and there was overwhelming support.

Erin Zanre, the CBFSA planned for DAR called today’s decision, “Epic”.  She explained, “This decision reflects the hard work and commitment of the Haena community and is the result of a decade long effort.  Haena sets a great example for how communities and DLNR can collaborate to better manage resources. Haena has paved the way and we hope the process for other communities won’t be as long and arduous” 

Implementation of the CBFSA rules package is pending adjudication of a contested case. All future CBFSA designations require approval from the BLNR.

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Dan Dennison                                 
Senior Communications Manager                
 
Office of the Chair
Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 130 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
 

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