If you love your fresh-caught local lobster or Kona crab, you’d best catch it quick because the season closes Sunday.
If you love your fresh-caught local lobster or Kona crab, you’d best catch it quick because the season closes Sunday.
The closed season for ula (spiny lobster), ula papapa (slipper lobster) and Kona crab runs from May 1 through the end of August. During that time, it’s illegal to take, possess or sell these shellfish.
“These rules are in place to protect lobsters and Kona crabs during the summer months, which are the peak of their reproductive season, and to help ensure their populations will continue to be sustainable,” said Suzanne Case, chairwoman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
However, any commercial marine dealer can sell, or any hotel, restaurant or other public eating house can serve spiny or slipper lobster lawfully caught during the open season by first obtaining a license to do so pursuant to Hawaii Administrative Rules, Case said.
During the open season, catching, taking or possessing of female spiny and slipper lobsters and female Kona crab is prohibited. Also, any spiny or slipper lobster or Kona crab caught with eggs must immediately be returned to the waters from which it was taken. Taking or killing of females is prohibited year round.
The Hawaii Fishing Regulations booklet, available at all Division of Aquatic Resources offices and most fishing supply stores, shows how to determine the sex of spiny lobsters and Kona crabs. The information also is available online at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-regulations/marine-invertebrates/how-to-determine-sex-of-regulated-invertebrates/.
For more information about regulations concerning these and other marine invertebrates, including minimum sizes, visit http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/fishing/fishing-regulations/marine-invertebrates/ or call the Division of Aquatic Resources at 587-0100.
To report any violation of these or other fishing regulations, call the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement at 643-DLNR (3567).