RULES AND VIOLATIONS

If you have checked out the FRAs (Fish Replenishment Areas) on the previous page, you see there is a lot of area to cover.  You can help the Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) by keeping an eye on areas and if you see any violations, make a report.  So, study the rules below and if you see anyone in violation of these rules, get as much information as you can (boat number, #  of people on board, exact area where the boat is, time, date, and a photo if you can) and then phone the DOCARE hot line at

643-DLNR

You can call 24/7 and don't need a prefix (i.e. 808).  Help our officers out.

These are the rules in the Hawaii Administrative Rule, Ch. 13-60.3.  briefly put and in layman's language:

In addition to the prohibition of capturing or collecting any live marine  organisms (whether for commercial sale or for private aquariums), and the prohibition against feeding marine life in an FRA, the rules would also:

Make it a requirement to:                                           

1) register any and every vessel used for aquarium collecting with the state.   

2) clearly display the letters "AQ" on both sides of the boat in letters six inches high or larger.    

3) in addition to a dive flag, fly a stiffened pennant with the letter "A" in such a manner that the pennant is visible from both sides of the boat.

Make it illegal to: 

1)  possess aquarium-collecting gear or collected animals or both on board a vessel without having a valid aquarium permit.

2)  possess aquarium-collecting gear or collected animals or both in a vessel unregistered for aquarium fishing use.  

3)  take any aquatic life for aquarium purposes between sunset and sunrise.  

4)  be adrift, moored or anchored within a protected area while having collecting gear or collected animals on board.  Vessels may transit protected areas as long as there is no gear in the water. 

The complete documents of the rules and amendments can also be viewed by visiting the DLNR website.