Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 4, 1 April 2006 — Molokaʻi's community-based effort in managing ocean resources [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Molokaʻi's community-based effort in managing ocean resources

Apair of community meetings held last month on Moloka'i initiated discussions on the establishment of rules for gill net fishing. At the first meeting, residents were informed that Moloka'i, along with Lāna'i, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau, would have no banned areas for lay net use. Although lay nets would be pennitted, additional restrictions are being proposed. Area fishermen agree that fish resources are being depleted and are supportive of more stringent regulation, but requested the right to set standards and controls specific to Moloka'i and her resources. In 2004, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) held statewide public meetings on a universal gill net ban. The proposal to ban gill net fishing on Moloka'i struck a chord with fishermen and loeal residents. Kūpuna Ruth Manu and Iudy Caparida circulated a petition opposing the ban that was eventually signed by more than 1,700 people. When state officials eame to Moloka'i for last year's public meeting, many residents were livid that they were not part of the rule-drafting process and that their main, subsistence protein source may be either eliminated or limited. As a whole, the conununity preferred to be part of the regulatory process rather than simply having another set of agency proposals tossed out at them. Fishennen on Moloka'i and other exempt islands, who continue to use lay nets, have the addition of several proposed restrictions. The maximum length of nets will be 125 feet, while maximum height stands at seven feet stretched. The minimum mesh size is 2 3A inches while stretched. Nets will

need to be registered with the department and have four identification tags, one at eaeh end of the float and lead lines. The nets will also need to have at least two surface buoys (with registration numbers) placed at either end of the float lines. Meeting attendees last month offered suggestions specific to Moloka'i's management, like limiting the pieces of nets to six per person, no diving for 'opihi, no kole fundraisers and no off-island sales of 'opihi. The issue of enforcement prompted a large debate over regulations without enforcement. "We ean put up all these regulations, but we only have one game warden over here, and he can't do everything," Mae Peopoe said. Serious about the request for more enforcement, connnunity members are circulating another petition that requests three additional game wardens along with two boats and two trucks to oversee the enforcement of loeal regulations. So far more than 500 signatures have been garnered. It is unclear when the proposed amendments to Hawai'i's Administrative Rules, Regulating the Possession and Use of Certain Fishing Gear, Chapters 13-75, will take effect. In the mean time, OHA reminds the state that it has a constitutional mandate, statutory requirements and a history of case law that forces it not to simply consider Native Hawaiians, their culture and traditions, but to preserve and protect Native Hawaiian culture and traditions. The survival of Native Hawaiian culture on Moloka'i and beyond, is dependent on the existence of a well-maintained enviromnent. Native Hawaiians' spiritual and physical relationships to the land and sea shape our views of conservation and preservation for the future. Moloka'i fishermen know about managing fishing resources, "Laws are for the lawless, but for us that know better, we have to make pono," said Aunty Judy. "Educate our children, our 'ohana and our eommunity about taking only what you need." □

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūks'i aud Lāna'i