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Committee defers bill banning night spearfishing and commercial sale of spearfish; Native gathering rights and reef conservation debated
Summary
SB 244, which would prohibit commercial sale of parrotfish taken by spearing and ban spearfishing for parrotfish at night, was deferred after extended testimony that split between reef-protection advocates and fishers citing customary gathering practices.
The Senate Committee on Water and Land deferred SB 244 on Feb. 5 after extended public testimony and agency comments that highlighted a clash between conservation goals and customary fishing practices.
The bill would prohibit commercial sales of parrotfish taken by spearing and ban spearfishing for parrotfish in state waters after sunset and before sunrise. Ted Bolen of the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition testified in support, arguing parrotfish are "very important" to coral preservation because they eat algae that smothers reefs. "Parrotfish ...…
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