July 2015 PDF
July 2015
MHI Bottomfish Catch Limit Drops
This time around, not a single angry word came from Hawai`i’s commercial bottomfish fishers, even though their annual catch limit (ACL) over the next few years will be tens of thousands of pounds less than it’s been in recent … Continued
`Ohi`a Disease on Big Island Poses Threat to Native Forests Statewide
“This pathogen poses a serious threat to Hawai`i’s flagship native tree species whose loss would be catastrophic for the diversity, structure, and function of Hawai`i’s remaining native forests and the services they provide.” — “First Report of Ceratocystis wilt on … Continued
Quarantine Rule for `Ohi`a Fungus Not Likely to Happen Anytime Soon
The rapid spread of the fungus killing `ohi`a on the Big Island is scary enough. The prospect that it could take down `ohi`a on other islands is a nightmare. How to stop it at the shores of Hawai`i island was … Continued
Pest Advisory on Hala Scale
In mid-May, the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture’s Plant Pest Control Branch issued pest advisories on the hala scale, Thysanococcus pandani Stickney, and the bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris Burmeister. The hala scale was first detected in Hawai`i on trees in Hana, … Continued
Legislators Give Conservation Causes Few Reasons to Cheer, Lots to Worry
At a recent meeting of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, veteran observers of the state Legislature summed up their take on the session that came to an end last month. “My optimism was shaken this session,” said Mark … Continued
GEMS Program Expands to Add Businesses To Eligible Entities, But Still No Homeowners
In March, Environment Hawai`i provided details – to the extent they were available – of a state-administered program called GEMS, short for Green Energy Market Securitization. The program is intended, according to enabling legislation, to bring the blessings of solar … Continued
Board Talk: Shark Cull Permit, Palolo Violation, and Another Seawall Problem
NMFS Gets OK To Cull Up to 20 Sharks To Protect Monk Seal Pups in NWHI In past years, when the National Marine Fisheries Service asked for — and received — permits to cull “rogue” Galapagos sharks that were preying on … Continued
New & Noteworthy: `Aina Le`a Lawsuit, Aha Moku Rift
Warring `Aina Le`a Factions: The developer that began building the townhouses on the stalled `Aina Le`a project in South Kohala has sued the company that owns most of the land where the full build-out is to take place. The lawsuit … Continued
Letter: UH Expert Urges Protection Of Beaches, Not Seawalls
“Losing Ground,” your May article on the shoreline struggles facing DLNR, was, as always, very informative and straightforward. Certainly the issues tied to beach erosion and sea level rise are going to worsen with time. Indeed, your article provides evidence … Continued