Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 3, 1 March 2014 — OHA BOARD ASKS GOVERNOR TO PROTECT NIʻIHAU FISHING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA BOARD ASKS GOVERNOR TO PROTECT NIʻIHAU FISHING

Ni'ihau residents, pictured, visited OHA in February requesting support as they seek to protect sustainable fishing practices in the island's nearshore waters. The OHA Board of Trustees voted 7-0 with one abstention in February to authorize OHA Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive 0fficer Kamana'opono Crabbe to draft a letter to Gov. Neil Abercrombie urging him to "to use all powers under his authority to immediately or as expeditiously as possible prohibit the taking or possessing of aquatic life within three miles of the shoreline of Ni'ihau by nonresidents of Ni'ihau, pending the passage of legislation, rules, ordinances or other laws that provide adequate protection for the nearshore resources of the island." Residents of the privately owned island, home to less than 200 people, most of whom are Native Hawaiian, say they are facing increasing fishing by non-residents, whieh threatens their subsistence lifestyle. The Legislature, meanwhile, is debating bills on the issue, including proposing a no-fishing zone off Ni'ihau. - Photo: OHA Communications