HONOLULU -- The open fishing
season for lobster and Kona crab began on Sept. 1, 2007 and the
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is reminding fishers
about new laws now in effect that prohibit the take of female lobsters
and certain female crabs, as well as how to distinguish male from
female lobsters.
DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Division of
Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are also responding to
questions about whether fishers can use lobster nets.
Taking of all female spiny lobsters, female Kona crabs and female
Samoan crabs is now prohibited as a result of the passage of Act 77 by
the 2006 Legislature.
Other current rules also apply to spiny lobsters: they must be a
minimum of 3-1/4 inches in carapace (head shell) length, spearing of
spiny lobsters is prohibited, and lobsters must be possessed whole
(head, tail, and swimmerets attached).
September 1 also marked the beginning of open fishing season for
Kona crab and slipper lobster. Kona crabs must be at least 4 inches in
carapace width; slipper lobsters must be at least 2-3/4 inches in tail
width. As with spiny lobsters, the spearing of Kona crab and slipper
lobsters is prohibited. There currently is no requirement to release
female slipper lobsters.
As to the use of lobster nets, the DLNR considers lay nets and
lobster nets to represent different and distinct net gear types.
Specifically, a lobster net has a larger mesh size (4-7 inches), is
made of stout multifilament colored cordage (usually bright orange or
red) rather than monofilament or other slender line, and usually
characterized by having only a 2-3 foot net face or panel, as compared
to a 6-7 foot vertical net face or panel for a typical lay net.
Lobster nets will not be subject to rules pertaining to lay nets,
and as such, will not need to meet lay net rule requirements if used
in the manner for which they were intended.
“As with any other fishing gear, lobster nets can be abused in their
use and potentially harm aquatic life. All fishers should remember to
use any net type responsibly and to fish in a sustainable manner,”
said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.
When using lobster nets as well as using any gill net gear, fishers
should actively attend the net, monitor what is being caught, and
immediately release any unwanted catch or species that do not meet
current requirements (undersized, out of season, beyond the legal bag
limit), or any threatened and endangered species.
The Hawai‘i Fishing Regulations booklet, available at all Division
of Aquatic Resources offices, various fishing supply outlets and
online at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar shows how to determine the sex of
spiny lobsters, Kona and Samoan crabs.
For more information on regulated fish, shellfish and gear types,
contact the Division of Aquatic Resources or the Division of
Conservation and Resources Enforcement offices as follows:
O‘ahu - DAR 587-0100, DOCARE 587-0077 or 643-DLNR.
Kaua‘i - DAR 274-3344, DOCARE – 274-3521.
Maui – DAR 243-5249, DOCARE – 873-3990.
Hawai‘i – DAR 974-6201 (Hilo) 327-6226 (Kona), DOCARE 974-6208.
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