HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0333.191 2010-2012Resolution 130 -11 Opposed
My name is Jay Lovell and I am opposed to the resolution 130 -11. I am a
tropical fisherman and have fished on the Kona coast for more than 25
years. Already 36.2% of the coast line has been closed to tropical fish
collecting to preserve the resource. The year 2000 nearly 70% of my
fishing grounds were shut down mainly south of Keauhou Bay to preserve
the resource. In the late 1980's we gave up the Pine Trees and Red Hill
areas to the Dive Charter companies with the understanding, "This will
take care of all of our use conflicts ". We have not collected in these
areas for ten to twenty years. As a fisherman I am concerned every time
I read a report in the newspaper claiming less fish on the Kona coast.
One dive company was claiming 20% a year loss in the closed areas back
in the eighties. I think it is time for the Department of Aquatic
Resources to address these FRA issues before you consider any ban on
tropical fishing. Contrary to the claims of devastation, Dr Bill
Walsh, head of the Department of Aquatic Resources, has data supporting
an increase of Yellow Tang stocks on the Kona coast. Maybe he should
look into the specifics of these dramatic fish loss claims in the FRA.
The tropical fishing industry has been on the Kona coast for over forty
years with my family in this fishery since the late seventies. What more
must we do to prove it is a viable sustainable fishery that with proper
management can be around for generations? There has been a use conflict
between the fisherman and the dive charter industries and their
supporters for decades. The fisherman has been regulated off of nearly
all the Kona coast to the dive charters benefit and still they want to
see us banned. It is time to address this use conflict, and look into
the possibility of regulating the dive charters out of the few areas the
tropical fisherman has left. This is not a resource issue. I want to
thank you for the opportunity to express my thoughts on this very
important resolution concerning my livelihood.
Sincerely,
Jay Lovell
No. 333 /I/
To: Pi
lief. Date