March 22, 2017 — The debate over fishing regulations at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is heating up again.
The council that helps outline rules for fishing in the federally protected area says it wants to work with the Trump Administration to ease restrictions there, making it easy for Hawaii’s commercial fishermen to work in waters around the monument.
Environmental groups are demanding protections remain in place. Some are even calling for an investigation.
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council – known as Wespac – is meeting at the Ala Moana Hotel through Thursday. One key issue being discussed is the development of new fishing regulations for the waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Wespac members say Hawaii’s longline fishermen have been negatively impacted by the expansion of the national monument, with the fleet being forced to fish in high seas, in competition with other countries.
“We’ve shut out over half of our exclusive economic zone to our fisherman, and it doesn’t make sense in an environment where we’re importing fish to feed our own people,” said Edwin Ebisui, the council’s chair. “The administration has already telegraphed that it wants to streamline regulations and make sure regulations are productive by nature.”