Report Title:

Miloli'i FMA; Community-based Subsistence Fishing Area

Description:

Designates the Miloli'i fisheries management area in South Kona as a community-based subsistence fishing area to preserve and maintain its legacy as a traditional Hawaiian fishing village. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1883

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to miloli'i fisheries Management area.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds and declares that:

(1) Miloli'i on the South Kona coast of the island of Hawaii is well known as one of the last predominantly traditional Hawaiian fishing villages. Isolated by its remote location from much of the development that has altered the coastline of Hawaii, the community at Miloli'i has retained its identity as a traditional Hawaiian fishing village;

(2) The community of Miloli'i is dependent on the catch of near-shore fish for a significant portion of their nutritional needs;

(3) Over the past few decades, the marine resources of Miloli'i unfortunately have been degraded primarily through over-harvesting;

(4) The Miloli'i community is concerned about this decline and believes that current regulations and management strategies for the area are not sufficient to ensure sustainable stocks of fish and good catch for their subsistence needs. If the current population decline continues, the health and economic well-being of the community will be in jeopardy;

(5) To avoid that possibility, the community of Miloli'i seeks to establish a traditional, community-based subsistence fishing area to ensure the long-term sustainability of near-shore marine fish populations and the survival of the community's culture, well-being, and way of life. This area will front the Miloli'i fishing village and portions of the South Kona Wilderness area thus helping to manage the Kapalilua ahupua'a. The community-based subsistence fishing area will cover the entire extent of the existing Miloli'i fisheries management area; and

(6) As the first designated community-based subsistence fishing area, Miloli'i would be a valuable asset for scientific research concerning the effects of such subsistence management. Fish counts and similar studies would strongly be encouraged to determine the relationship between an abundance and diversity of nearshore marine life species and a community-based subsistence fishing area such as Miloli'i.

SECTION 2. Chapter 188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§188-   Miloli'i fisheries management area. The Miloli'i fisheries management area, as defined in section 13-60.3-19, Hawaii administrative rules, shall be designated a community-based subsistence fishing area, as provided in section 188-22.6. The department of land and natural resources shall adopt management strategies and other rules consistent with section 188-22.6 that:

(1) Ensure long-term sustainable populations of fish and other marine species; and

(2) Encourage the scientific study and understanding of subsistence fishing management."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.