KAILUA-KONA — The final report of a feasibility study on a non-commercial marine fishing registry, permit or license system in Hawaii was released Friday, stating that implementing such a system would be possible under current laws.
Conservation International Hawaii and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council convened a study group comprised of individuals from several fishing organizations and interest groups to take another look at a registry, permit or license (RPL) system for the state. Prior attempts to implement such a program in Hawaii have failed.
The evaluation of various RPL systems was based on three objectives: an ability to better inform fishery management efforts with superior data; the potential to facilitate dialogue between fishers and managers by identifying demographics of non-commercial fishers in the state; and the potential to generate independent, continuous funding for the management of Hawaii fisheries.
“The Study Group did not identify a preferred alternative, however, the Study Group concluded that there are no legal or constitutional barriers in Hawaii that would prohibit the implementation of a new RPL system, and that it is possible, subject to further consultation regarding implementation, to design a system that does not violate the Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights protected under Hawaii law,” the executive summary of the report stated.
The report went on to say that study group members did not assume a collective position on whether an RPL system should be put in place for Hawaii or what that system would look like specifically if the state chose to develop one.
“We look forward to getting comments from a broad range of stakeholders before making such a decision on what option is preferred,” Bruce Anderson, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources administrator, said in a press release. “Undoubtedly, this report will generate considerable discussion and serve as a valuable reference for all those interested in this issue.”
Non-commercial fishing has cultural, environmental and economic implications in the state, and attempts to regulate it and/or create a fee structure for the privilege are controversial in nature.
Jim Rizzuto, a 77-year-old lifelong fisherman, said the idea of charging for non-commercial fishing licenses in Hawaii has been around for years.
“I think they’ve been looking at it most my life,” said Rizzuto, who has written a weekly fishing column for West Hawaii Today for decades.
He said it could be seen as problematic by many fisherman around the state.
Often, people are resistant to a change to something they’re used to getting for free. Aside from that, the cost for an agency to run the licensing program would likely eat up much of the revenue it was supposed to generate, he said, and it could prove a nuisance to fishermen having to fill out the details and specifics of what they’re catching and where.
Restrictions to non-commercial fishing could be especially irksome to fishermen in Hawaii, where casting line is a lifestyle.
“It’s like having a license for walking, like having a license for swimming,” he said. “I don’t see it as useful in any way.”