Do you know that in Hawaii we do not have a bag limit on the number of fish that we can take from the ocean reefs?
There are a few exceptions, like the fish managed areas in Honolua Bay and Kahului Harbor, and the kapu and size limits on several species of fish and lobsters (see Hawaii Fishing Regulations August 2011).
Otherwise, it's a free-for-all out there. You can take as many fish as you can carry or drag to your car.
Akule, too, can be caught in large numbers when they migrate seasonally into Kahului Harbor. Adult akule come into the harbor for one reason - and one reason only - and that is to spawn. Within days or moments before spawning, they are netted out. Don't we have any common sense at all? Yes, I did say we - that includes those government agencies that allow us to rape and pillage. And you and I are no better for remaining silent and not raising our voices in protest.
William Aila, the head the Department of Land and Natural Resources, needs the involvement of all of us to support, urge and do whatever is necessary to at least get a bag limit legislation passed to stop the rapidly declining populations of fish in Hawaii.
Takeo Miyaguchi
Kahului
