Commercial aquarium fishing EIS rejected
HONOLULU — A state board rejected an environmental impact statement submitted by a group seeking permits for commercial aquarium fishing around Hawaii Island.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources voted Friday to reject the statement of more than 2,000 pages submitted by 10 West Hawaii aquarium fishers and the National Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.
The aquarium fishers can proceed with their attempts to obtain permits by revising the impact statement or appealing the board’s decision.
The Hawaii Supreme Court halted aquarium fishing in September 2017 by ruling fish collection without environmental review violates the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act.
No permits have been issued since then for the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area, the focus of the environmental impact statement.
Before permits can be declared valid, the industry must prove the commercial operations can capture fish for aquarium sales without harming the environment, fish stock levels, reefs or related cultural practices.
A lack of data regarding the number of fish that would be taken was of particular concern to the board in its rejection of the statement, said board chairperson Suzanne Case.
Senators call for moment of silence for COVID victims
JUNEAU, Alaska — U.S. senators, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, are calling for a moment of silence to honor those who died from COVID-19.
The moment of silence is planned for noon Monday.
The U.S. on Wednesday surpassed 100,000 deaths related to the pandemic, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
Murkowski, a Republican, said too many families have seen loved ones suffer or been unable to have proper memorials for those who died.
Schatz, a Democrat, said the nation “must mark this dark moment with unity and clarity.”
Maui watershed purchase could be delayed
WAILUKU, Maui — A county government’s acquisition of a private water delivery system for Maui’s drinking water might be delayed because of budget cuts resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.
Maui County Water Director Jeff Pearson said his department allocated $2.5 million to evaluate the Wailuku Water Co. water delivery system in a possible purchase.
The fiscal year 2020-21 budget has yet to be approved by the Maui County Council, but Pearson said the water department’s budget was significantly reduced by cuts related to COVID-19.
Wailuku Water Co. has sought for nearly two decades to sell its water delivery system as a result of business losses, along with nearly 14 square miles of Na Wai Eha watershed land in the West Maui Mountains.
The watershed provides about 70% of Maui’s drinking water.
There is still $9 million in the county’s fiscal year capital improvement projects budget for the possible acquisition. The funding has not yet been authorized for bond and would lapse at the end of the calendar year, Pearson said.
An effort by lawmakers to buoy the county purchase with state and federal funds is also in limbo. Matching measures in the state Senate and House would earmark funds to buy land in the watershed for conservation.