New fishing regulations for Kahului take effect today

New fishing regulations for Kahului Harbor and the catching of ‘oama on Maui island will take effect starting today, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced.

The updated rules for the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area will:

≤ Prohibit the use of all nets in the harbor with the exception of a “landing net” with a stretched mesh of two inches or greater and a “hand net” no larger than eight inches in diameter and with a handle that is no more than 14 inches in length.

≤ Remove the exceptions for take of nehu under a commercial bait license.

≤ Remove the exceptions for commercial akule net fishing.

≤ Remove the exceptions for crab netting.

≤ Remove the exceptions for take of juvenile mullet under an aquaculture license.

≤ Create an exception to the rule that all hooks must only have one point to allow the use of double or treble hooks when using lures.

The requirement for fisher check station reporting is repealed, DLNR said. Check-in stations will be converted to outreach stations where the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources can post rules and updates. Other changes and updated definitions as well as other nonsubstantive technical amendments are for clarity and consistency, DLNR said.

Rule amendments for ‘oama on Maui add weke ‘ula as a regulated species in addition to the existing weke ‘a, as the two are difficult to distinguish at that size, and redefine ‘oama as these two species when less than eight inches fork length (previously five inches).

For general information, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/.

For information on Kahului Harbor, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/ dar/regulated-areas/kahuluiharbor-maui/.

For information on state marine fishes and other vertebrates, see dlnr.hawaii.gov/ dar/fishing/fishing-regulations /marine-fishes-and-verte brates/.