Proposed 2021 Fishing and Boating Laws Passed & Axed
The 2021 Hawai‘i Legislative Session is over, but the fishing and boating laws passed that are now awaiting the governor’s signature will have long-term effects. Statewide, fishers had an opportunity to participate in a legislative overview with the Division of Aquatic Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Boaters, however, weren’t so lucky because the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) continued their policy of “no news is good news.” The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted a Scientists and Fishermen Exchange (SAFE) meeting on May 7. This “SAFE Meeting: 2021 Legislative Overview” with 16 attending consisted of a PowerPoint presentation followed by notes, comments, questions and answers during the discussion.
“I am the Fisheries Extension Agent and serve as the middleman between fishermen, scientists and managers. It’s one of my main duties to host SAFE meetings several times a year. These meetings serve as an opportunity for various agencies, NGOs, fishers and other stakeholders to get together and discuss a particular topic (topics are chosen by SAFE members). This time around, we received an update from DAR on the current status of marine- and fisheries-related bills with some discussion about each bill,” said Keith Kamikawa, NOAA affiliate and Fisheries Extension agent.
Fishing Bills Passed
A single valid newly created CMVL will satisfy the license requirements for all persons
