The state Board of Land and Natural Resources Friday evening voted to prohibit scuba spearfishing in waters of the Kohala, Kona and Ka’u coasts.
The six-member board voted 4-2 in favor of the ban after hearing more than six hours of testimony on fishing in the area, which spans from Upolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Ka’u.
The board also approved a new rule limiting aquarium fish collection in West Hawaii waters to 40 species, in addition to other rules and amendments.
Both the spearfishing ban and 40 species “white list” are part of a new West Hawaii Regional Fisheries Management Area rules package that addresses various issues. Ten years of discussions and hearings lead to the rules developed by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council community advisory group.
For more details, read Saturday’s edition of West Hawaii Today or visit westhawaiitoday.com