Kaʻū News Briefs Dec.21, 2024

Invasive imu is a threat to Hawai'i reefs and not the natural food of local fish desired by local fishers. Photo from DAR

Fishers are urged to take a survey

and give ideas on managing reefs.

Photo from DAR

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF NEARSHORE FISHING in Hawai'i is the call from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources. The local fishing community is encouraged to engage with the Reef Habitat Plan, with its subtitles For Fishers, By Fishers and A lawai'a guided plan by the Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources to improve nearshore fish habitat.
    "The project is focused on habitat restoration without proposing new fishing rules or regulations. The plan will help direct funding and resources toward the goal of improving nearshore fisheries abundance," says the DLNR statement. It says that Division of Aquatic Resources "recognizes that Hawai'i's fishers hold generations of experience and knowledge about our marine resources and this understanding serves as the foundation of the project. An online survey is currently open to gather feedback from the state's nearshore fishing community with two principal questions —how and where can we improve nearshore habitat?
    The survey is available on the Reef Habitat Plan website at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2e0e1452af2d4b9d81f83444661c6100.
    "For Fishers, By Fishers means that we're working hand-in-hand with the fishing community to create a plan fishermen want," said Tyler Kueffner, DAR Reef Restoration and Fisheries liaison. "Lawaiʻa voices on this project are essential to ensuring government is responding to what fishers already know."
    According to DAR, restoration methods that the fishing community has already identified include

Building Artificial reefs is one DAR program to expand fish habitat.
  Photo from DAR

creating artificial reefs, coral outplanting, invasive limu removal, research into the impacts of invasive roi, ta'ape and to'au, as well as working with other agency partners to address freshwater quality and quantity issues. "Feasibility will be assessed for each site, while considering practicality, cost, existing habitat conditions and interagency collaboration. Funding for the Reef Habitat Plan is provided by federal coral reef restoration grants.
    DAR reports that to date, the project has garnered over 250 survey participants through in-person outreach events on Hawai'i Island, Moloka'i, Maui, O'ahu, and Kaua'i, as well as virtual engagement on social media. In the coming weeks, DAR invites interested fishers to participate in a series of island-specific meetings which will focus on particular areas of each island where fish habitat should be improved. "These efforts will continue into early 2025, guiding the development of a draft plan with input from fishers, biologists and other agency partners."
    "Nearshore fishers are deeply invested in the future of Hawai'i's marine resources, and DAR encourages them to share their input," says the statement.
    "The best way to get involved," says Kueffner, "is to complete the online survey. It's anonymous and takes three minutes."

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THE RETURN OF THE O KA'U KAKOU KEIKI FISHING TOURNAMENT after going dark during COVID will be 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 25. Pre-registration ends at noon on
Thursday, Jan. 22.
    It's the 13th Catch & Release Keiki Fishing Tournament sponsored by OKK. It's for ages 1-14 and is held at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach where the headquarters are at the pavilion.
    Keiki fish for 90 minutes with hand poles with barbless hooks, using their own or those provided by the tournament. Bait is also provided. No chumming is allowed, A parent or legal guardian must accompany keik at all times.
    Registration is online at okaukakou.org. Printed forms can also be dropped off at The Land Office, LLC in Na'alehu Shopping Center or scanned or photographed and emailed to julieenriques1@gmail.com. Early registration is encouraged to reduce the long registration lines on tournament day, said Julie Enriques who is helping to produce the event.

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