I am really excited to put this blog post together, because of the simple fact that this whole thing originated from the fishing community, and is a great example of a case where there is obvious common ground between fishers and non-fishers.
A letter-writing campaign is being coordinated by local Maui fisherman and conservation advocate Darrell Tanaka, who says on facebook, "We are generating a letter campaign addressed to Governor Abercrombie, asking him to direct DLNR to create bag limits for reef fish, something DLNR started over two years ago and never completed....please help by sending the governor a message, or giving him a phone call in support of this effort."
This effort started as a result of the photo below making its rounds on the internet and becoming the target of considerable debate. Mostly focusing on the need for bag limits.
The DLNR does in fact have a rule package that was developed years ago, through statewide community meetings including the opportunity for input. It includes bag limits, and other measures designed to better protect marine resources by considering life history and ecology. However, due to capacity constraints at DLNR and other factors, this effort to improve existing rules and regulations has not moved forward.
Letters are now being written by those of us who think it's time the effort does move forward.
If you would like to join in the effort, write a letter to the Maui News (250 word limit), The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (175 word limit), and West Hawaii Today (200 word limit). You can also use this link to contact the Governor's office. Address your letter to both Governor Neil Abercrombie and DLNR Chair William Aila.
While we're at it, a similar effort in West Hawaii is in need of support - a West Hawaii Rules Package has moved forward and is currently at the Governor's office, but needs his support to move to the public hearing stage. See the flowchart below for some insight into the process. According to the Kona Division of Aquatic Resources, the recommended changes in the rule package "are the result of ten
years of research, committee meetings, and community discussions, all
facilitated by the West Hawai’i Fisheries Council (WHFC). The overall goals of these
changes are to ensure continued resource sustainability, to enhance nearshore
resources, and to minimize user conflicts in the WHRFMA."
If that flowchart frightens and confuses you, you're not alone.
So, please check out the letters that have already been printed, compiled below, and consider joining those of us who have submitted letters. This blog post will be updated as new letters are published.
Letter from Jeremy Selg, Honolulu Star Advertiser
Urgent action needed to protect Hawaii’s reef fish
The Maui News, August 24, 2012
I am writing with great concern regarding the state of the reefs in Hawaii's waters. The amount of fish here is declining and will continue to decline rapidly if no action is taken to improve the fishing regulations that are already in place.
Through social media, I have seen an increasing amount of photos containing absurd amounts of fish from one dive. Although they are not breaking any laws in the type and size of fish, the amount taken is quite frightening to me. For whatever reason that they are raping our reefs, it disgusts me to actually see photos like these; proof that people take a lot.
Updating our current and somewhat outdated state fishing regulations (i.e., setting bag limits, increasing the legal size of a species, etc.) would be the only way to prevent overfishing in our delicate waters, but this can only be done with your help.
Call the governor at (808) 586-0034 and ask him to take the necessary steps to protect our reefs to ensure that there will be fish for generations to come.
Deron Furukawa
Wailuku
The Maui News, August 24, 2012
I am writing with great concern regarding the state of the reefs in Hawaii's waters. The amount of fish here is declining and will continue to decline rapidly if no action is taken to improve the fishing regulations that are already in place.
Through social media, I have seen an increasing amount of photos containing absurd amounts of fish from one dive. Although they are not breaking any laws in the type and size of fish, the amount taken is quite frightening to me. For whatever reason that they are raping our reefs, it disgusts me to actually see photos like these; proof that people take a lot.
Updating our current and somewhat outdated state fishing regulations (i.e., setting bag limits, increasing the legal size of a species, etc.) would be the only way to prevent overfishing in our delicate waters, but this can only be done with your help.
Call the governor at (808) 586-0034 and ask him to take the necessary steps to protect our reefs to ensure that there will be fish for generations to come.
Deron Furukawa
Wailuku
Action needed now to save reefs for future fishermen
Maui News, August 26, 2012
Maui News, August 26, 2012
One question asked by a younger child: "Eh, uncle, how come no mo fish now days?"
That is one question I never want to answer to a child eager to catch his or her own fish.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, will you help the fishermen save our reefs?
No more fish in the ocean means no more recreational or commercial fishing, no more locally caught fish to serve in our restaurants. Even the tourists wouldn't waste their valuable time and money to come to Hawaii to see nothing in our waters.
Better bag/fish size limits and active enforcement by the state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will ensure that child's question will never be asked in the future. Our local fishing and tourism industries would benefit in the long run.
I challenge all fishermen who want their kids to be able to fish like they did to contact the governor at (808) 586-0034. And please write a letter to The Maui News to support our reefs.
Max Renigado
Lanai City
That is one question I never want to answer to a child eager to catch his or her own fish.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, will you help the fishermen save our reefs?
No more fish in the ocean means no more recreational or commercial fishing, no more locally caught fish to serve in our restaurants. Even the tourists wouldn't waste their valuable time and money to come to Hawaii to see nothing in our waters.
Better bag/fish size limits and active enforcement by the state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will ensure that child's question will never be asked in the future. Our local fishing and tourism industries would benefit in the long run.
I challenge all fishermen who want their kids to be able to fish like they did to contact the governor at (808) 586-0034. And please write a letter to The Maui News to support our reefs.
Max Renigado
Lanai City
The Maui News, August 27, 2012
Oftentimes, when conservationists and resource managers call for increased regulations, there is immediate pushback from whichever stakeholder group is being affected. Status quo requires the least amount of effort and short-term sacrifice in the face of the long-term benefits the science community attempts to describe.
However, when the impact of status quo is so unacceptable that a stakeholder group asks to be regulated, as is the case now with the fishing community, it's time to take action.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, please do whatever is necessary to assist the state's resource management agency, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in moving forward a rule package that was developed with extensive community support and involvement more than three years ago. This rule package includes bag limits and other essential changes to existing rules, such as increases in minimum size, based on life history and ecological factors.
Preservation is a much smarter strategy than restoration, which has its limits in a degraded system. There's a point of no return for marine resources and it's critical that we recognize that we're headed in that direction and take action to change course now.
Governor and DLNR Chairman William Aila, please listen to those forward-thinking individuals in the fishing community who are asking for help, and to all those from a diversity of stakeholder groups who will hopefully follow suit and add their voices to this call for action.
Liz Foote
Wailuku
Governor urged to act to halt decline of reef fish
September 2, 2012
The members of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council respectfully
request that Gov. Neil Abercrombie establish bag limits for key species
of reef fish as expeditiously as possible.
Our council consists
of 28 members and numerous advisers who represent a broad spectrum of
the community, including commercial, recreational and subsistence
fishers; ocean tourism businesses; and scientists, educators and
cultural practitioners. Our goals for Maui County are to have an
abundance of reef fishes and clean water.
Fishers from both the
council and community have repeatedly asked for our support of bag
limits as one tool to address the disappearance of keystone species like
uhu.
For five years, we have supported the Division of Aquatic Resources'
recommendations, testified to the Legislature and requested change; yet
nothing has been done. Reef fish populations continue to decline.
We
ask the governor to personally ensure that bag limits are established
soon. We also ask that he enact a recreational fishing license and
increase the number of Division of Conservation and Resources
Enforcement officers to help our reefs recover.
Robin Newbold
Chair
Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
Kihei
Limits needed before resource is depleted
September 2, 2012
Something is not right when fishermen have to ask for bag limits
for reef fish. Aren't these the guys who want to go fishing and fill
their ice chests?
I have been fishing in Hawaii for many years
and am asking for bag limits because the resource is dwindling and has
been totally depleted in many areas.
It is hoped that the
management of the resource will allow for the populations to be
maintained and to someday proliferate as it once did.
Action needs to be taken before it is too late. If you feel the same
way, I urge you to call, write or meet with your local representatives,
Gov. Neil Abercrombie or the Department of Land and Natural Resources
and share these concerns.
Karen M. Yamada
Kahului
Act now to stop declining fish populations in Hawaii
September 11, 2012
Do you know that in Hawaii we do not have a bag limit on the number of fish that we can take from the ocean reefs? There
are a few exceptions, like the fish managed areas in Honolua Bay and
Kahului Harbor, and the kapu and size limits on several species of fish
and lobsters (see Hawaii Fishing Regulations August 2011).
Otherwise, it's a free-for-all out there. You can take as many fish as you can carry or drag to your car.
Akule, too, can be caught in large numbers when they migrate
seasonally into Kahului Harbor. Adult akule come into the harbor for one
reason - and one reason only - and that is to spawn. Within days or
moments before spawning, they are netted out. Don't we have any common
sense at all? Yes, I did say we - that includes those government
agencies that allow us to rape and pillage. And you and I are no better
for remaining silent and not raising our voices in protest.
William
Aila, the head the Department of Land and Natural Resources, needs the
involvement of all of us to support, urge and do whatever is necessary
to at least get a bag limit legislation passed to stop the rapidly
declining populations of fish in Hawaii.
Takeo Miyaguchi
Kahului
Hawaii needs to protect its ocean resources
The Maui News, September 13, 2012
This letter is in support of bag limits on reef fishing. It has been said that Hawaii does not need to do things the way they do on the Mainland. This is true, but only if the island resources are being protected. They are not being protected.
Hawaii scientists make it clear that overfishing is a big problem for the health of the reefs. Anyone connected with Hawaii's water knows. There are fewer fish to catch or otherwise enjoy, and there are fewer fish left to reproduce.
The recently popularized photograph of dozens of dead fish is an illustration of Hawaii's poor resource management. It is not possible to continue to have few or no restrictions on fishing.
Visitor awareness of lack of fish hurts visitor numbers, particularly on the Neighbor Islands where the percentage of visitors utilizing the ocean is high.
Substantive bag limits on reef fish and other protections are overdue. Please call the governor at (808) 586-0034 and demand bag limits.
Richard Fairclo
Klamath Falls, Ore./Haiku
