Saving Seafood

HAWAII: Kauai counters seeing fewer whales, too

October 4, 2018 — Annual February humpback whale counts from Kauai have dipped to less than half the number they were in 2014, keeping in rhythm with recent statewide research.

Every year the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary holds three counts during the time the whales are in Hawaii — once in January, once in February and the last in March.

Humpback whales are generally in Hawaiian waters from November to May, with peak season being January through March, to breed and have their young.

The 2017 season on Kauai kicked off early, with the one of the first sightings reported Oct. 18, from a Blue Dolphin Adventures tour.

The counts occur simultaneously throughout the islands, with volunteers recording whale sightings during 15-minute periods and on Kauai, data is accumulated from 15 sites.

In March 2015, Kauai and the Big Island averaged two whales every 15 minutes, and Oahu averaged three every 15 minutes.

March 2014 yielded an average of three whales every 15 minutes on Kauai and Oahu, and two per every 15-minute time period on the Big Island.

Kauai reported four whale sightings every 15 minutes in March 2013, and Hawaii and Oahu calculated an average of three. That year, Kauai averaged two whale sightings from all sites.

Researchers have recorded a decline in the number of whale sightings, but also the number of songs and sightings of mother and calf pairs.

Read the full story at The Garden Island

Man Sentenced to Prison for Beating Hawaiian Monk Seal

September 6, 2017 — It took less than an hour for the video to go viral; less than 2 days for federal, state, and local authorities to make an arrest; and less than 15 months to resolve the case and send the guilty party to jail. On July 26, Shylo Akuna was sentenced to 4 years in prison after being found guilty of harassment of a critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

“It’s a top priority for NOAA Fisheries, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, and our state enforcement partners to protect our nation’s critically endangered marine mammals,” said Jim Landon, Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE). “This case is a great example of collaborative partnership resulting in a successful prosecution.”

The horrific scene took place on April 26, 2016, at Saltponds Beach on the island of Kauai. Luckily, the harassment was caught on video by witnesses on the beach and subsequently uploaded to social media where it drew worldwide attention and condemnation. The video showed a man, later identified as Akuna, approaching a resting pregnant monk seal, identified as RK-30, and punching the animal repeatedly. OLE was notified of the video almost immediately. The following day, OLE and its enforcement partners from the Hawaii’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) interviewed witnesses and Akuna, who had already been identified as a suspect. At that point, Akuna admitted to being intoxicated at the time of the assault.

Read the full story at NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement

Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked to Scallops

August 23, 2016 — A recent hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii has been traced back to frozen imported scallops from the Philippines.

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) in its investigation.

The scallops were distributed by Koha Oriental Foods on the islands of Oahu and Kauai, and were packaged by Sea Port Bay Scallops.

On August 17, 2016, Hawaii Department of Health reported that 206 people have been confirmed to have become ill with hepatitis A in that state.

On August 18 Sea Port Products Corp initiated a voluntary recall of three lots of frozen Bay Scallops produced on November 23, 2015 and 24, 2015. The lot numbers are 5885, 5886, and 5887.

Read the full story at The Fish Site

Ni’ihau owner warns against potential expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

August 8, 2016 — LIHUE, H.I. — One concern with the potential expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is the possibility of interference with military operations.

At a recent Lihue community meeting where the Obama Administration was gathering comments on the expansion from Kauai residents, Keith Robinson voiced his concerns.

“I’m against the expansion of the reserve because I don’t want environmentalists to have an excuse to cripple Navy operations,” Robinson said in the meeting. “The Navy has never caused any environmental problems.”

Robinson, who owns the island of Ni’ihau with his brother Bruce, also operates a private botanical garden on Kauai.

Robert Purdy, spokesman for Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, said the facility is still evaluating the potential expansion.

“The remarks are those of interested parties who were voicing their personal opinions and/or views at a public meeting, and though PMRF will not speculate on their comments, we welcome the feedback of concerned individuals and encourage public engagement while we work with the local community on this issue,” Purdy said.

He continued: “The subject of expansion is currently being discussed at various government and community levels, and speculating on the subject or its impact on current or future PMRF and/or military operations would also be inappropriate at this time.”

In his Tuesday public comments at the Kauai Community College forum, however, Robinson offered a glimpse of insight into further reasons for his concern about the military’s activities.

“My family was informed by the U.S. military very secretly about the coming attack on Pearl Harbor eight years before it happened. We tried to prepare very secretly,” Robinson said. “History seems to be repeating itself now and Russia and China are becoming quite aggressive in the Western Pacific.”

Read the full story at The Garden Island

‘That Ocean Belongs To Us,’ Former Governor Tells Feds

July 27, 2016 — Former Gov. George Ariyoshi said Tuesday that he doesn’t want “somebody from the outside” dictating how Hawaii residents can use the waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

A few dozen opponents of the proposed fourfold expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument stood behind him in the Capitol Rotunda, holding signs saying “Not so fast” and “Protect our local food source.”

“That ocean belongs to us,” Ariyoshi said.

Former U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka followed suit, saying the public needs to know more about the proposal before President Barack Obama considers using his executive authority under the Antiquities Act to expand the monument.

“It’s unconscionable for us to enact a new policy of expanding Papahanaumokuakea without proper transparency,” Akaka said. “What does it do to the people of Hawaii?”

Supporters — a few of whom were at the rally to try to counter the opposition — want the president to expand the monument in September when Hawaii hosts the world’s largest conservation conference. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s World Conservation Congress is set to meet in Honolulu Sept. 1-10.

While no public hearings are required, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are planning to hold two public meetings next week, one on Oahu and the other on Kauai.

Opponents say that’s not good enough. Hawaii Longline Association President Sean Martin said the feds should have a more robust public process to vet the proposal, one in which comments are tabulated and and submitted. 

Read the full story at the Honolulu Civil Beat

HAWAII: Papahānaumokuākea Expansion Public Meetings

July 20, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

Please join the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for a public meeting to discuss the proposed expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

On June 16, 2016, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz submitted a proposal to President Obama, requesting consideration of expanding the current boundaries of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – drawing attention again to the rich cultural and scientific resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

As the Administration evaluates the proposal, we are seeking input from all interested parties to ensure that any expansion of the Monument protects the unique features of the NWHI for future generations while recognizing the importance of sustainable ocean-based economies. Please join us at our listening session to share your comments, concerns, and visions regarding the proposed expansion.

Oahu:
Monday, August 1, 2016
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Filipino Community Center
94-428 Mokuola Street, Suite 302
Waipahu, HI 96797		 Kauai:
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Kauai Community College
Performing Arts Center
3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy
Lihue, HI 96766

Written comments will be accepted in person during the public meetings and may also be submitted, in person, August 1 and 2 at the following locations during normal business hours:

Oʻahu
Honolulu Services Center
Pier 38, Honolulu Harbor
1139 N. Nimitz Hwy, Suite 220
Honolulu, HI 96817		 Maui
Sanctuary Visitor Center
726 South Kihei Road
Kihei, HI 96753		 Hawaiʻi
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
76 Kamehameha Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

We hope you are able to join us and ask that you RSVP at your earliest convenience by clicking HERE. This meeting is open to the public, so please feel free to share this invitation with anyone you think would be interested.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Read the release at the Papahanaumokuakea website

Feds Want Public Input On Marine Monument Expansion

July 15, 2016 — Federal officials plan to hold two public meetings next month — one on Oahu and the other on Kauai — to discuss the proposed expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to a draft notice that’s expected to go out Friday.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii submitted a proposal June 16 that asks President Obama to consider using his executive authority to expand the monument fourfold around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The current 50-mile boundary around the islands, which President George W. Bush established in 2006, encompasses 139,800 square miles. Schatz’s proposed expansion out to 200 miles for most of the reserve would protect 582,578 square miles.

Commercial fishermen and restaurant owners have come out against the proposal, saying it restricts access to an area where fishermen catch on average 8 percent of their annual haul of bigeye tuna. 

Conservationists and scientists have said it’s critical to preserve this pristine area for the sake of the species that live there — known and yet to be discovered — as well as combating the effects of climate change.

Both sides have said they want a public input process to let the administration know what’s at stake. The process isn’t required by law, but it appears the feds have heard their call.

The first meeting is slated for 5 p.m., Aug. 1, at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. The second is set for 4 p.m., Aug. 2, at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center. Both are anticipated to be three hours long.

Read the full story in the Honolulu Civil Beat

Tagging Ahi Tuna in the Western Pacific

July 5, 2016 — A respected research professor, scientist and part-time resident has been on Kauai for several weeks coordinating the latest phase of a tuna tagging project launched on Kauai and the Big Island three years ago.

Dr. Molly Lutcavage is a research professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s School for the Environment. She is also director of the Large Pelagic Research Center and is renowned for her extensive work with the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing community.

The Ahi Satellite Tagging Project of the Pacific Island Fisheries Group is a joint venture that uses state-of-the art technology and partners fisheries organizations, policy makers and local fishermen in the effort to gather much-needed baseline data on ahi and other pelagic fish that live and migrate in waters surrounding the main Hawaiian islands and beyond.

“There’s very little information on these patterns for ahi in this region,” Lutcavage said.

“Most of PSAT or data logging tags on ahi were deployed in the eastern and western Pacific, so the Hawaiian islands remain a ‘data poor’ area as far as high-tech tag results,” she added.

Last week, six large yellowfin tuna (ahi) were tagged with pop-up satellite tags and released in waters off Kauai. If all goes well, the tags will collect data that will help identify their migration routes and behavior for one year, Lutcavage said.

Read the full story at the Garden Island

Senator Brian Schatz Releases Marine Reserve Plan

June 17, 2016 — U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz made the proposal to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument official Thursday in a letter to President Barack Obama. Schatz called for the monument to grow to 582,578 square miles, which would make it the world’s largest marine protected area.

Parts of the monument would extend from shore by 200 miles to the limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, while other parts would have their boundaries maintained to provide “access for local fishermen on Kauai and Niihau” according to a press release from the senator’s office.

Schatz said he and his staff met with Gov. David Ige, state Senate President Ron Kouchi, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to discuss their concerns.

“With their feedback, Schatz developed the proposal sent to the president,” the release said.

A large group of state lawmakers, including Kouchi, recently wrote a letter to Obama opposing the possible expansion.

Read the full story at Civil Beat