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- In our time we have:
Persuaded the legislature to pass a law establishing the west coast of the Big Island
of Hawaii as a special Fisheries Management Area, enabling us to advise resource managers of answers to OUR specific region's
problems.
We have established more than 35% of our shoreline as areas where no aquarium collecting is allowed.
These areas, known as Fish Replenishment Areas, or FRAs, have now entered the lexicon of marine resource managers throughout
the country.
We have successfully pushed through amendments to the regulations which aid enforcement officers
in apprehending violators.
We have participated for ten years in a resource advisory position by maintaining a
seat on the state's first-ever regional, volunteer fisheries management council, the West Hawaii Fisheries Council.
This Council has been the model for other areas of the state and now Maui has a Council as well.
We have assisted
the Council with resolving user conflicts between residents of a shoreline community and the aquarium collectors by helping
to broker a swap between closed and open areas.
We have helped to write a series of regulations which will
establish the state of Hawaiii's first limited entry fishery, by limiting the number of collectors who can get permits
for our shoreline.
We have monitored the state legislature every year for possible bills which might erode
the protections we have put in place. We also support other important marine resource bills, and encourage our members
to do so as well.
We have acted as watchdog on the notorious federal fishery management council known as the Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) which has devastated fisheries around Hawaii and are now turning their attentions
to nearshore areas they might exploit.
We are currently continuing all of these things as well as beginning work
on establishing a complete no-take area along our shoreline where fish populations can rebound.
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