May 2018 PDF
May 2018
With Looming Threat of Fishery Closure, Council Seeks New Ways to Save Turtles
The Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery, which reportedly provides 50 percent of the domestic swordfish catch and generates about $3 million in revenue, could soon close for the third time since 2004 because of its interactions with federally protected sea turtles. … Continued
Court Finds Federal Agencies Violated Law In Granting Permit, Setting Loggerhead Cap
In January 2012, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a biological opinion (BiOp), which found that the Hawai‘i shallow-set longline fishery would not jeopardize the continued existence of loggerhead or leatherback turtles if it operated under a leatherback interaction … Continued
Council Shies Away From Expansion Of Territorial Bigeye Quota Transfers
Neither the expansion of marine monuments nor the strict bigeye tuna quotas set by international fishing organizations have stopped Hawai‘i’s deep-set longline fleet from growing. Last year, the fishery had a record number of active vessels, 145, which together set … Continued
New Assessment of Bottomfish Stock May Lead State to Open Fishing Areas
A new stock assessment by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) suggests that the Main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish restricted fishing areas (BRFAs) established two decades ago, when stocks were thought to be in deep peril, could be downsized — … Continued
Bill for Ko‘olau Loa Plan Awaits Hearing on Proposed Amendments
February came and went without a vote, despite an express wish in November by Honolulu City Council member Ikaika Anderson that one would be taken. March passed, too, and Anderson’s Bill 1, to approve the Ko‘olau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan, … Continued
Homeowners’ Association Is Sued By Ka‘u Developer with Big Plans
A half-century-old plan to build a lavish resort in Ka‘u is at the heart of litigation that’s been brought by the current owner of the land where two high-rise hotel towers were once proposed to be built, along with restaurants, … Continued
Court Mulls Whether Contested Case Should Be Granted for TMT Sublease
How, if at all, should last year’s contested case proceeding and resulting Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP) for the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) influence the lawsuit over the denial of a contested case over the sublease for the facility? … Continued
New & Noteworthy: Kuki`o Clean-up, Pacific Paradise, Marine Licenses
Kuki‘o Clean-up: Before publishing our article in March on irrigation lines, sandbags, and other beach-armoring gear along the Big Island beach at Kuki‘o, we sought comment from the Kuki‘o Community Association, which owns the adjoining property. None was forthcoming. Last … Continued
April 2018 PDF
April 2018