Hearing on Proposed Rules for Ha‘ena Subsistence Fishing Area Friday

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public hearing Friday to adopt a new chapter under the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules relating to the establishment of the Ha‘ena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing.

The hearing will be held at Hanalei Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 3, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The Ha‘ena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area includes state waters within the Ha‘ena ‘ahupua‘a from the shoreline out to one mile.

The proposed rules would limit the type of fishing gear and methods that may be used, prohibit the harvest of marine life for commercial purposes, set new daily take and possession limits for certain species, and establish the Makua Pu‘uhonua (marine refuge) as a “no entry” sub-zone.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider.

Those unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments may mail written testimony by Friday, Oct.17, 2014, to the Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Additional information or a copy of the proposed rules will be mailed at no charge upon receipt of verbal or written request to the DAR address or may be obtained at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/DAR in the “Announcements” section.