More Protections for Cetaceans: At its recent meeting in Fiji, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission adopted a measure intended to provide some measure of protection to whales and dolphins that interact with longline fishing vessels throughout the vast international waters of the Pacific subject to the commission’s regulations.
The text of the conservation and management measure states that the commission recognizes “the ecological and cultural significance of cetaceans” and further recognizes that “certain cetacean species and populations in the WCPFC Convention Area are threatened or critically endangered.” It goes on to take note of “the adverse effects of fishing … on some populations of cetaceans … through capture, injury and mortality.”
“Alarmed by observer reports … that indicate a number of instances of interactions with these species, and instances of misreporting of such interactions in logbooks,” the commission adopted the measure that will require all longline vessels flying the flag of member countries “to release … any cetacean that is caught or entangled in its fishing gear … as soon as possible and in a manner that results in as little harm to the cetacean as possible.”
The measure takes effect July 1, 2025.
Marconi Update: A 2021 memorandum of agreement meant to protect historic features of the Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Station on Oahu’s North Shore will need to be updated since the deadlines to submit stabilization and protection plans have passed while unauthorized work led to further destruction of one of the buildings.
According to the state Historic Preservation Division, a signatory to the MOA that was included as a condition of a USDA-backed loan for the construction of several agricultural warehouses at Marconi Point, “The existing [MOA] between SHPD, USDA, and the property owner has yet to be amended on how to best memorialize the historic restoration work on the structures and finalize approvals for the restoration work in progress. SHPD is awaiting the draft from USDA to be able to offer comments and suggestions.”
Whether a violation for unauthorized work done by current landowner, Greystone HI Investments, LLC, is forthcoming remains to be seen. According to SHPD acting architecture branch chief Mary Kodama, her department withheld records Environment Hawaiʻi requested regarding the agencyʻs violation investigation as it is ongoing.
The agency did not respond by press time to a request for correspondence between SHPD and Greystone, its owner, its attorney, and any other representatives or consultants.
A Correction: In last month’s article on oral arguments in a lawsuit over revocable permits to divert water from East Maui, we misquoted Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justice Todd Eddins. We quoted him as saying to Sierra Club attorney David Kimo Frankel, “You actually argue for about 18 minutes, they say. I argue that was pretty effective.” He actually said, ““You actually argue for about 18 minutes, they say, and I imagine it was probably pretty effective.”
We sincerely regret the error.
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