Hawaii’s Hunting Farming and Fishing Association has set up a petition asking the President of the US not to extend the North-West Hawaiian Island Marine Monument from 50 miles to 200 miles around the islands, claiming that such an extension would have devastating impacts on small business, fisheries, and culture without justification or public input.
‘Our Kauai Fishermen run the risk of losing middle bank and key fish grounds,’ said the Hunting Farming and Fishing Association.
The petition will be delivered to President Barack Obama as well as to senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and to representatives Tulsi Gabbard and K. Mark Takai.
The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) was established in 2006 by the Bush administration and this marine protected area (MPA) currently encompasses the Northwestern Hawaiian Island (NWHI) chain, covering an area 100 miles wide and 1200 miles long. It sits within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Hawaii’s waters, a 400-mile wide stretch of ocean that includes both the PMNM and the Main Hawaiian Islands.
Half of the demersal landings and the bulk of lobster for Hawaii originate from within the PMNM, prior to the establishment of the monument.
‘Fishing boats operated in that area for decades with very little ecological impact. Early in the 21st Century, it was decided that the near-pristine condition of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands should be protected indefinitely, and that was the rationale for creating the PMNM,’ the Hunting Farming and Fishing Association states.
‘Now there are groups that are asking President Obama to expand the PMNM to include the entire EEZ around the NWHI. Imagine an area that would be as long as the distance between the borders of Canada and Mexico, and wider than the state of California.
A significant percentage of the fresh fish we depend upon will be unavailable. And this is at a time when our fleet is the only one operating in the Pacific that is equipped with GPS tracking systems, operate under strict rules to protect endangered species, and have federal monitors aboard to log everything that’s caught and released.’
The Hunting Farming and Fishing Association argues that all the fish caught by the fleet is tracked even after it has been landed to go to to the market.
‘Every pound can be found,’ they claim. ‘Our longline fleet, mostly family-operated boats, will be forced to compete with much larger foreign fleets that have few, if any, restrictions. This could drive some of our fishermen out of business, reduce the availability of fresh-caught fish, and increase prices that are already high.’
The Hunting Farming and Fishing Association’s members pint out that marine resources within the PMNM and the EEZ are well protected under existing fishery management regulations and close monitoring, while expanding the monument will not provide additional conservation benefits for species such as tuna, billfish, sharks, sea turtles and marine mammals. These animals are constantly moving, and range far beyond the EEZ.
‘Claims that citizens would be allowed entry for cultural reasons aren’t supported by the history of the existing monument. Getting permits to enter the area are extremely difficult to obtain for any reason. And this is not in keeping with the way other natural monuments operate. Yellowstone National Park, the Sequioa National Forest, the Grand Canyon, Mt. St. Helens, and more than a hundred other national monuments are open to the public. Not the PMNM. No one is allowed into that area except for certain researchers,’ they claim.
‘Hawaii is the only state in the nation that relies so heavily on its ocean resources. And we are the most isolated spot on Earth. At a time when we need to be increasing our capability of becoming more self-sufficient, there are calls to take those much-needed resources away, and put our food security at risk. We humbly ask that you do not expand the North West Hawaiian Islands Marine Monument,’ the Hunting Farming and Fishing Association’s petition reads.
