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Murashige, Laura
From: Ron Tubbs [rtmb @hawaiiantel.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 12:13 PM,
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Please vote NO to Resolution 363 -10
Dear City Council Member please read the below Report and vote NO to resolution 363 -10, 71;
Report to the Twenty -Fifth Legislature
Regular Session of 2010
REPORT ON THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL FISHERY
MANAGEMENT AREA
Prepared by
Department of Land and Natural Resources
State of Hawaii
In response to
Section 188F -5, Hawai'i Revised Statutes
January 2010Page 1 REPORT ON THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WEST HAWAI'I REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT AREA
The West Hawai'i Regional Fisheries Management Area (WHRFMA) was created by Act 306, Session Laws
of Hawaii (SLH) 1998, largely in response to longstanding and widespread conflict surrounding commercial
aquarium collecting. The Act, now Chapter 188F, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), required of the
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), 1) A review of the effectiveness of the WHRFMA
every five years, in cooperation with the University of Hawaii (UH), and 2) A report of its findings and
recommendations prepared by DLNR to the Legislature following the review.
The overall goals of the Act are to effectively manage fishery activities, enhance nearshore resources and
reduce conflict. Four management objectives were mandated: 1) Prohibit aquarium collecting in a minimum
of 30% of West Hawai'i coastal waters, 2) Establish a day -use mooring buoy system, 3) Establish no -take
reef fish reserves, and 4) Designate areas which prohibit gill nets.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
In order to accomplish the mandates of Act 306, SLH 1998, with required substantive community input, a
community advisory group, the West Hawai'i Fisheries Council (WHFC) was convened by DLNR's Division
of Aquatic Resources (DAR) in 1998. The first accomplishment of the WHFC was the designation of a
network of nine Fish Replenishment Areas (FRAs), comprising 35.2% of the coastline. Aquarium collecting
is prohibited within the FRAs. The FRAs became effective 31 December 1999.
Ten years after closure of the FRAs, the top 20 aquarium species showed
a small overall increase in abundance relative to the period before the
FRAs were operational. Most of the increase was attributed to the top
two species Yellow Tang and Goldring Surgeonfish (kole) which comprise
91% of the West Hawaii aquarium catch. These species increased in the
FRAs by 57% and 13% respectively. Seven of the top 10 most collected
Comm. No. � L Ca
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Page 2 of 2
species (representing <6% of all collected fish) decreased in overall
density. Three of these decreases were significant (Achilles Tang,
Multiband Butterflyfish and Black Surgeonfish).
The FRAs were „effective L (increases in FRAs relative to long term MPAs) for eight of the top 10 collected
species with three being statistically significant. With only a single exception, the FRAs were highly
effective in increasing the abundance of Yellow Tang within their areas spread along the West Hawai'i
coastline. While habitat characteristics, FRA size, and density of adult fishes are important factors
influencing the effectiveness of FRAs, successful recruitment of young fish is a fundamental requirement.
Poor recruitment appears to be a key factor in the population declines within the FRAs of some aquarium
species. Page 2
The results of FRA studies clearly show population increase and
quick recruitment of fish populations in both FRA and Non FRA
areas. Declines in certain species in protected areas are probably
due to lack of food due the massive fish population increase.
Declines can also be attributed to breeding cycles. Certain years
population increase are great, other years less fish reproduce.
Counts would be higher if fish were counted after breeding and
lower if counted before breeding drops.
Thanks, Mary Tubbs
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