There’s an 89 percent chance that commercial fishermen in the Main Hawaiian Islands are catching uhu, commonly known as parrotfish, at an unsustainable rate. That’s according to Cassandra Pardee, a Hawai`i Pacific University graduate student who has recently completed a … Continued
When estimating the number of false killer whales that interact with the longline fishery, scientists and resource managers do not try to guess the sex of any individual caught. But a recently published study of dorsal fin disfigurements concludes that … Continued
Land Board Approves Lease for Hawai`i County Wind Farm The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has agreed to forgo nearly half a million dollars in rent over the next ten years so Hawai`i island residents can save money on … Continued
Posted 12/30/2013 The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing a change in fishing regulations that would make permanent what has been a year-to-year rule allowing Hawai`i-based longliners to exceed the annual catch limits on bigeye tuna imposed by the Western … Continued
Posted 07/03/2013 Readers of this space may recall that at a June 13 board “briefing” on proposed fishing rules for Maui, Lana`i and Hawai`i island, Board of Land and Natural Resources chair William Aila announced he had removed from the proposed … Continued
Posted 06/14/2013 Back in 1997, Environment Hawai`i and Common Cause Hawai`i sued the Board of Land and Natural Resources for holding “briefings” (meetings by any other name) where public testimony was not allowed to be given. We won and the Land … Continued
Posted 04/29/2013 (Environment Hawai`i editor Patricia Tummons has been reporting on Wespac since 1994. This commentary reflects her personal view.) Enough is enough. Enough “complimentary” upgrades to swank hotel suites and first-class cabins. The bills may not reflect it, but someone … Continued
Posted 3/29/13 An error in the Commerce Appropriations Act for 2013 could curb the catch of bigeye tuna by Hawai`i-based longline vessels just as the high-demand holiday season starts up. As readers of Environment Hawai`i may recall, in November 2011, … Continued
Posted 11/02/2012 Two conservation groups are suing the National Marine Fisheries Service, challenging its new rule expanding the number of loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles that may be taken by the Hawai`i swordfish fishery. The complaint seeks both injunctive relief … Continued
Posted 09/18/2012 The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced it is accepting further public comment on a petition to list the Hawai`i insular population of false killer whales as a distinct population segment eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act. … Continued