Clarifying a misunderstood statement
In his letter to the editor on March 27, Dennis Gregory cites results from a 2003 journal article authored by Brian Tissot and myself. We reported on fish abundances observed on transects searched in 1997 and 1998 along the Kona coast. As Gregory correctly summarizes, the density of fishes targeted by collectors was significantly lower in collection areas than in protected areas like Fisheries Management Areas and Marine Life Conservation Districts.
Since those data were recorded in the late 1990s, the Hawaii Legislature passed Act 306, which mandated that a minimum of 30 percent of the West Hawaii coastline be delineated as Fish Replenishment Areas. Aquarium collecting is prohibited in FRAs, as it is in FMAs and MLCDs.
Because of planktonic dispersal of larvae by most reef fishes, adult fishes in protected areas produce young that ultimately settle onto reefs along the entire West Hawaii coastline. This fact supports the premise that aquarium fish collecting in West Hawaii can be a sustainable fishery. Collecting areas are replenished with young recruits from adult reproductive populations protected in FRAs, FMAs and MLCDs. This presumes that the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources continues its effective enforcement of collecting regulations and protection of “no-take” zones from clandestine harvesting.
Leon Hallacher
Hilo
Bad news gets us national attention — again
Our island makes the national news again.
First, it’s a man diving, who is so fearful of a woman with a camera, that he attacks her.
Now, we have a mayor who uses taxpayer money as his own. It’s too late now to get credit for paying it back. I think this says it all: Kenoi hires a “criminal defense” lawyer.
P.I. Hanson
Kailua-Kona