NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold public hearings to receive testimony on proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) Chapter 13-75, Rules Regulating the Possession and Use of Certain Fishing Gear. The public hearings will be held on the following dates and times and at the following locations:

July 18, 2006, 6:00 PM or shortly thereafter:
Hilo High School Cafeteria, 556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii
Lihikai School Cafeteria, 335 S. Papa Avenue, Kahului, Maui
Benjamin Parker Elementary School Cafeteria, 45-259 Waikalua Road, Kaneohe,
Oahu
Liholiho Elementary School Cafeteria, 3430 Maunaloa Avenue, Honolulu, Oahu
Leihoku Elementary School Cafeteria, 86-285 Leihoku Street, Waianae, Oahu

July 19, 2006, 6:00 PM or shortly thereafter:
Kulana oiwi, Kaunakakai, Molokai

July 20, 2006, 6:00 PM or shortly thereafter:
Big Game Fishing Club, Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Wilcox Elementary School Cafeteria, 4319 Hardy Street, Lihue, Kauai
Lanai Public & School Library, Lanai City, Lanai

The purpose of the public hearing is to provide any interested person the opportunity to submit data, provide viewpoints, or to testify on the proposed rule amendments to add requirements to fish using lay gill nets by: requiring the registration and identification of all lay gill nets, limiting the maximum dimensions of lay gill nets, restricting their fishing or soak times and require attendance and inspection of nets when fished, prohibiting more than 4 hours of fishing time in a 24-hour period of one net per person per day and limiting the use of lay gill nets to one at any time, prohibiting the use of lay gill nets in streams and stream mouths, and prohibiting their use at night. The proposed rule amendments would also define affected species, specify penalty provisions in each rule section, and include other minor housekeeping measures.

The proposed amendments would also ban the use of lay gill nets in certain waters around the State. Specifically, the proposed amendments would prohibit lay gill net use around the entire island of Maui, and on Oahu between Portlock Point to and including the Pearl Harbor channel, from Mokapu Peninsula to the northern boundary of Bellows Air Force Base, and in Kaneohe Bay between the two ship channels to include Ahu O Laka.

The proposed amendments would assist in the enforcement of lay gill net fishing rules by identifying ownership of net gear, would address the over-fishing concern by reducing fishing effort by reducing the length of nets that can be used, the amount of time that a net can be used or fished, and the areas in which lay gill nets can be used (seaward depth limit, stream and stream mouth prohibition, and no netting zones). The proposed amendments would also serve to reduce unintentional impacts to protected species (threatened sea turtles) and allocate fishery resources to other user groups.

A copy of the proposed amendments to the HAR Chapter 13-75 is available for viewing or purchase (for a nominal copying charge) at any Division of Aquatic Resources offices.

3060 Eiwa Street, Rm 306 1151 Punchbowl Street, Rm 330
Lihue, Kauai 96766 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: 247-3344 Phone: 587-0100

75 Aupuni Street, Rm 204 130 Mahalani Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Phone: 974-6201 Phone: 243-5294

Molokai 74-380B Kealakehe Prkwy.
Phone: 567-6696 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone: 324-6226

Upon request, the DLNR can mail a copy by calling these offices during normal business hours (for a nominal copying fee and for postage). The proposed draft amendments to the HAR may also be viewed and downloaded from the Department’s website: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider. Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments may mail written testimony by August 8, 2006, to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to attend the public hearing may request assistance of a sign language interpreter. Anyone who has difficulty reading may request a large print version of the proposed rules. The requests may be made in writing to the address in the preceding paragraph, or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu. The request will need to be received at least 72 hours before the hearing is scheduled to start.

Peter T. Young, Chairperson
(SB05523441 6/18/06) Board of Land and Natural Resources