Announcements
Link to DAR Public Notices and Draft Rules.
Link to official DLNR News Releases.
Results of public hearing for amendments to West Hawaii administrative rules
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is proposing to amend and adopt Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) pertaining to West Hawaii, specifically to amend chapters 13-54, 13-57, and 13-75, repeal 13-60.3, and adopt a new replacement chapter 13-60.4. The rules propose establishment of a list of 40 fish species permitted for aquarium take with size and bag limits on three of these species, a SCUBA/Rebreather spearfishing prohibition, prohibition on take or possession of nine species of inshore sharks and rays and two invertebrate crown-of-thorns predators, closing a 1,500 foot section of Ka'ohe Bay, South Kona to aquarium collecting and several other rule changes to enhance enforcement of aquarium collecting regulations and to clarify existing rule provisions. Public testimony on these rules was accepted from 17 October, 2012 to 19 December, 2012. A Public Hearing on the proposed rules was held in West Hawaii on 05 December, 2012.
All submitted public testimony and comments as well as an overall summary can be downloaded below.
After an assessment of the necessity and utility of the rules and in response to overwhelming supportive public testimony, DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will recommend to the Board of Land and Natural Resources that the West Hawaii rules be approved in their entirety. The next step in the rulemaking process is final decision making by the Board. It is anticipated that the Board will address DAR's recommendation of approval at a meeting to be held shortly after the current legislative session ends (May 2013).
The following relevant pdf files can be downloaded:
Draft rules
Background on proposed rules
Small Business Impact Statement
Rules summary
Rules comments
Summary of testimony and comments
Testimony in support
Testimony in opposition
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Commercial Fishing Report Online System now available
Licensed commercial fishers are now able to submit their monthly Commercial Fishing Report online. The link is available at the DAR commercial fishing web page. Commercial fishers may use the online system to submit their fishing reports. Some of the benefits of the Online Fishing Report system that licensed commercial fishers will realize include:
- Ability to view report submission status
- Easy to submit "Did Not Fish" report for month in which a fisher had no activity
- Drop down windows for area fish code, buoy, gear, landing port and species to facilitate report completion
- An option to save data entries for each individual fishing trip until a fisher is ready to submit their report at end of the month
- Ability to print copy of the monthly report for the fisher's business records
- Option to download an extract of the fishing report record for import into the fisher's favorite software so they can analyze their own fishing performance
- A link to Online Commercial Marine Licensing System that allows renew of a Commercial Marine License online
- Web-site security through the State of Hawai'i's internet portal - eHawaii.gov
During the initial phase of this online project, only the Fishing Report form can be submitted online. Other report forms, including the commercial Aquarium Catch, Deep-sea Handline Trip, Tuna Handline Trip, Net/Trap/Dive & Activity Reports, will be available for online reporting in the near future.
DLNR is providing this new online system as an alternative method of submitting mandatory monthly commercial fishing reports, which are required by law. It is DLNR's goal to facilitate the collection of fishing reports, which provide invaluable data for both State and Federal government agencies who co-manage the fisheries in Hawaiian waters. By submitting complete and accurate fishing reports every month before the reporting deadline (the 10th day of the following month), commercial fishers will avoid license renewal refusal, or fines administered by the Civil Resources Violation System.
Commercial fishers who require assistance in using the new online system may contact the Statistical Unit in Honolulu at (808) 587-0108, or 587-0595, or 587-0084, or 587-0594 from Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM, except Holidays and Furlough Fridays. They may also e-mail questions to the Fishing Report hotline.
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Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA closed to fishing January 1, 2013.
The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area is closed to
fishing during the calendar year 2013. This area is closed to fishing on
alternate years to help restore fish populations.
Location
The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area extends
from the ewa wall of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium to the Diamond
Head Lighthouse, from the highwater mark out to a minimum seaward
distance of 500 yards, or to the seaward edge of the fringing reef if
one occurs beyond 500 yards.
Fishing periods
"Open to fishing" from January 1 to December 31 of even-numbered years.
"Closed to fishing" from January 1 to December 31 of odd-numbered years.
Permitted
To fish for, take or possess any legal size marine life in season
during the "open to fishing" period, provided that only hook-and-line,
thrownet, handnet to land hooked fish, and spear fishing and hand
harvesting methods are employed.
With a permit to engage in activities otherwise prohibited by law for scientific, propagation or other purposes.
Prohibited
To fish for, take or injure any marine life (including eggs), or to
possess in the water any fishing gear during the "closed to fishing"
period.
To use any spear between the hours of 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, or have or
possess in the water any trap or net except thrownet or handnet to land
hooked fish during the "open to fishing" period.
Download a pdf copy of the administrative rule and illustrative map of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA.
NOTE: The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA is adjacent to the Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District where fishing is prohibited. Please see the DAR Fishing Regulations page or the Marine Life Conservation District pages for more information.