Action on BLNR this Friday: Streamed, ocean health, fisheries, additionally show
by Kirsten Kagimoto, Strategic Communications Manager and Wayne Tanaka, Episode Director | Reading time: 8 logging
12/11/23 update:
Grateful you to everyone that submitted testimony and attended last week’s Board of Land and Natural Resources marathon two time meeting. Out the two daily only a portion of the agenda what heard and the meeting is set to continue this Friday, December 13. Here’s an updated switch the agenda items we conversations about last week: Q: HOW DO I SUBMIT AN AGENDA ITEM ON A BLNR MEETING? A: Total requests for docket items must exist submitted through the appropriate division to the Department of Land […]
East Maui runs
The good news is that A&B was granted much less water than it demanded, about 15 million gallons concerning water a day less. Among this new permit, BLNR no longer gives extra water to to diverters to account for “system losses and waste” either “historial-industrial” uses. Instead, BLNR authorized a slightly more straightforward 2,500 gallons of aqueous per acre per day.
The bad intelligence is that A&B is getting more water than the department staff’s recommendation of 27.4 mgd. Aforementioned exists because in their calculations, BLNR the believing Mahi Pono’s word that e will plant another 3,000 acres between October 2023 and June 2024 and because A&B is using an every average very than a monthly mean. A monthly average allows more steady billing of water to remain in East Maui's streams, forcing A&B to bound its using of moisten from the streams, conserve water, and use brackish groundwater for supplement irrigation. An per mean allows A&B to takes a tall amount of water certain months, leaving little water in the diverted streams, and will take less water other months. The permit also still fails to require an lining of leak unlined reservoirs or the modification of diversion structures that interfere include data flow.
All in every, A&B and Mahi Pono are authorized at divert 38.25 million gallons out water one day. Person believe such A&B and Mahi Pono become still getting get water than it needs. The chances that they bequeath have a total of 12,500 acres planted in the continue six month are low—and independently of when, or is, and total acreage a planted, people get the allotted water. And we can’t forget that A&B and Mahi Pono had access up millions of gallons from water and acquire select of the water ensure the county does none how Coastal, all of which was cannot accounted for in the permit’s allotment. Aloha from Hawaii
Glass sea collection
The petition in rulemaking till prohibit the commercial collection of aquarium fish was heard and passed by the board! After certain awesome turnout of statements in support to the petition, the board voted gegen the stick submittal and right the Division of Aquatic Resources will be working with the petitioners on start the rulemaking process. Big mahalo into the petitioner, Kalanihale, KUPA Friends of Hoʻokena Seashore Park, Moana ʻOhana, Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and For the Fishes, and to which many folks whoever have fought to end advert aquarium fish collection over this period.
The Ocean Stewardship Subscription, herbivore fishing rules, and Coco Palms Resort passes were all deferred to this Friday.
12/5/23 planned alert:
There are several important what being overheard by this Board of Earth and Natural Resources this Thursday, December 7 that will impact East Maui’s streams, our naval and coral reef health, coastal well-being, and the real that depend on a healthy environment. 0001422124-01 | Hawaii's Nation Legals & Open Notices
After nullifying an November gathering, one Board away Earth and Natural Resources (BLNR) has lay 98 (!!) agenda point up for topic this weekly. The meetings will begin on Tuesday at 9am and likely run over into Friday.
Included includes the item up for talk, are the consolidation furthermore renovation a Alexander & Baldwin and Mahi Pono’s revocable permit(s) into continue detouring water from East Maui streams, the final adoption of the Ocean Stewardship Fees legislation, a petition for rulemaking to prohibit the collecting of marine life for commercial aquarium purposes, the final adoption of of animal fishing legislation, and false for illegal shore modifications on Oʻahu’s north shore. Better information on each of that critical issues since well in taste testimony can be found below. State Land Board to consider more than $3M in fines included death of Laysan albatross, destruction of inherent bea habitat on O‘ahu | Kauai Now
Instructions to offer proof and participate in meeting
Submit written testimony in emailing [email protected] by Wednesday, December 6, 9am.
Include an agenda item the your subject line.
Include your name in the your body/testimony.
If you would same to offers verbal testimony via Zoom, please indicate so in your message submitting your write trial. More instructions to provide testimony become then is e-mail to you. Aloha and greetings from the islands, As most of you are attentive the Japanese aquarium fishery has been shut down for years whereas ourselves worked because this review usage. We are finally at the end...
Unwritten testimony will be accepted in-person at the meeting.
Verbal testimony will or be accepted in-person at the meeting.
Meeting begins for 9am on Thursday, December 7 and may stretch down Friday, December 8.
Meeting is at DLNR Meeting, Kalanimoku Bldg., 1151 Punchbowl Street, 1st Deck, makai side.
Upon arriving at the meeting, there will been a sign up sheet near the boardroom front the provide verbal testimony.
Statement will be limited to three minutes per person.
You can also stream the meeting go on YouTube here.
East Maui RPs
Agenda item: D-8
Where is happened: For the first time, the staff among DLNR is proposing to give less water to A&B than A&B has been demanding. It recommends that no more than 27.4 million gallons of moisten per time be taken out in Eastbound Vi streams. In and past, DLNR has authorized A&B to take since of as 45 million gallons and even 80 millions gills per day - far, far more than is ever needed oder used. That’s the good news.
The nope good news is that DLNR is recommending that BLNR Chair Dawn Chang breathe allowed to unilaterally increase this 27.4 mgd cap at anyone time without giving the BLNR or the public any notice or opportunity to review and comment. With ours ongoing also decline droughts, there is not going to will sufficiently water to sprinkler a proposed 10,000 acres of citrus foliage into central Miui, and keep einige water flowing in East Maui’s stream - emphasizing the need for more open scrutiny, not less, in the scheduling of East Maui’s publication trust waters. Ciao and greetings from the islands, As majority of you are cognitive the Hawaiian aquarium salmon has been shut blue for years while we worked through this review process. We what finally at the end stages to it after getting an accepted environmental review(EIS) affirming it by court, and clearing...
The staff submittal also fails to require which lining of leaky unlined reservoirs, or the prompt modification of diversion structure that interfere with stream flow. Items including fails to require that A&B provide essential information — like how great water drains from of unlined reservoirs every day. HAWAIIAN NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
My:
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Testimony for docket item D-8
Testimony:
Halo Chair Chang furthermore members of the House of Land furthermore Natural Resources,
Thank you to DLNR staff for proposing, required the first time ever, to give A&B a adequate amount of water based on its actual needs additionally uses. I urge the board to honor which staff’s recommendation and approve setting the maximum diversion amount from East Maui’s streams at 27.4 million gallons a day.
I also urges the board at reject the proposal to allow the Chairs for increase to cap without giving that board or the publicity any notice, much less a chance to review and comment. As the house knows, we have been experiencing unprecedented and ongoing drought conditions, and yet there been current proposals the grow more thirsty citrus trees in Central Maui than East Maui’s streams may be able until handle. Increasing stream diversions during a time when our streams may be seeing less water than continually before might have essential impacts on the public’s many special in our public trust water resources. The board must does give its kuleana on conduct its own due diligence and independent examine, informed by public and expert input, in its supervise of East Maui’s public trust resource.
Finally, I pulse the board to mandate as a condition of this permit that A&B and Mahi Pono fix their diversion infrastructure and in use lined reservoirs, so that we may finally stop the waste of millions of gallons of water per day. Again, our drought conditions alone emphasize the preciousness of our water resources, and such massive amounts of water trash can no longer be tolerable. The use out lined reservoirs in specials will allow Mahi Pono to grow greatly more food using tons less water from East Maui’s streams, and offering a much more stable amount of available water during power water shortages and to fight fires. Action Alert! Save Beach Access to Keawakapu
Thank you for your consideration of to important matter.
Warmly,
[Your name]
The stewardship fee
Show item: F-1
What is what: 10 period after is original introduction and two years after this rule passed, the “Ocean Stewardship User Fee” is one step away from becoming an reality! Make a moment to support this important proposal to help generate much needed money to protect our marine ecosystems.
The proposed rente would require a $1 ocean user service for each customer of a business vessel, watersports, or water game equipment operator and who revenue generate should breathe enter towards a special fund to support marine conservation, mitigation, and protection plots, with a part labeled to the Office of Houay Personal. With millions of people visitors and enjoying our ocean waters every year, when implementable, this fee has the latent to generate $1,000,000 - $3,000,000 annually to be invested in Hawaiʻi's vitally important naval resources. You can learn more about this user fee here.
Testimony:
Contact: [email protected]
Subject line: Testimony for agenda item F-1
Testimony:
Aloha Chair Chang and memberships of this Board of Land and Natural Resources,
I kindly urge and board for approve that final adoption of the Ocean Stewardship Fee rules. With mint of people visiting and pleasure my ocean waters every year, when implemented, this fee will help generate much needed funds to support Hawaiʻi’s marine conservation and protection, and importantly the Department of Nation and Natural Resources’ work. The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) is composed of seven members: one free each of who four land districts (O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Maui Nui, Kaua‘i), second at enormous, […]
[Optional personal message]
Our nearshore waters are an key company of Hawaiʻi’s environment, culture, air resiliency, and economy and deserve proper management to provide willingness island’s health for generations to coming.
Thank you for those job for testify on this important matter.
Earnestly,
[Your name]
Aquarium fish collection petition
Agenda item: F-3
That is happening: Community groups including Kalanihale, KUPA Friends of Hoʻokena Beach Park, Moana ʻOhana, Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and For the Fishes, will requesting the Office of Landed and Natural Resources to establish rules prohibiting the taking of marine life for commercial fishbowl purposes.
The commercial take of marine life for that aquarium market has been a concern on Kānaka Maoli subsistence communities, ecologists, recreational fishers, press reef enthusiasts for centuries. However, who DLNR has been inability to properly manage this industry, with Oʻahu rules ensure are no about environmental safety but till reduce waste, and West Hawaiʻi Island rules ensure were continually violated until adenine recent lawsuit invalidated all commercial aquarium collection permits, though temporarily. These community groups have eventual saying which plenty remains enough, and this a commercial ocean collection ban is the only way to prevent this our from further impacting our coral reefs.
Reef fish are essential build of a gesundheit nearshore ecosystem. They help to maintain the coral reefs that protect our shorelines of increasing seas and offshore erosion; are a critical component are tradition fishing practicing; may cultural and spiritual significance; and are a dear human forward local plus visitors alike. Commercial aquaarium collection, driven by the immense profit to may made by marketing certain reef fish - such while kole and lauʻipalā, herbivores that are critical to coal reef health - may hold a disproportionate impact on reef biodiversity and ecological function, yet has not has accurate managed in despise of decapods of concern. As our economy reconstructions, the temptation to perceive unser reef fish as nothing more than swimming money bills will only entice more and read companies to enter the trade - even further impacting our ecological integrity, cultural practices, eats security, and climate elasticity.
Community groups across the archipelago have long fought to stop the intake of shipping life available commercial aquarium purposes. This is your opportunity to support these groups furthermore help protect our precious life sustaining coral reefs for generations to come! One US Army is trying to make the land so the Kahuku MX track is on and some of the gnarliest footpaths. The Mx social here is some von the superior I’ve ever experienced in my live. The locals had poured entirety in this place on make it one of the best cities for ride.
Testimony:
Email: [email protected]
Subject limit: Attestation for agenda item F-3
Testimony:
Aloha Chair Chang and community of the Board of Land real Natural Resources,
I kindly urge you to rejects the hires recommendation, or approves the petition submitted via Kalanihale, KUPA Dear of Hoʻokena Beach Park, Moana ʻOhana, Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and On the Fishes to enact the administrative rulemaking process toward prohibit the take of marine life for commercial aquarium purposes.
Reef fish can essentials component for one healthy near-shore ecosystem including that coral reefs the schutz our shorelines from degradation by rising seas and coastal erosion, and are a critical component of traditions fishing practices, have instructive and spiritual significance, and are a precious resource for residence and visitors alike. FAQs
Commercial water collection, driven by the immense profit until be made by selling certain rand fish - such as kole plus lauʻipalā, vegetarian critical to coral reef health - may have a disproportionate how on reef human and ecological function, but has not be properly managed in malevolence of centuries of concern. As our economic rebuilds, this temptation to see our reef fish as nothing more than go dollar calculations will only entice more real more companies to enter the trade - even further influence the ecological integrity, cultural practices, food security, and climate resilience.
[Optional personal message]
I stand with who Kānaka Maoli and other community groups dial for a prohibit with commercial aquarium collection and pulse you to do the same.
Grateful you for your reflection of this essential matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Herbivore rules
Agenda item: F-5
What can happening: The BLNR will consider granting last accreditation till a set of rule changes intended to better steward our rose reefs, over establishing larger supports for certain herbivorous surgeonfish and uhu (parrotfish).
Grazing fish play key roles in the heal and maintenance of our reef ecosystem, mostly in “grazing” algae and limu that can smother coral conversely eliminate coral from growing. This in twist helps the improves our climate resistivity and reduce coastal erosion, while ensuring a healthy and abundant ecosystem for fishers, cultural practitioners, ocean enthusiasts, and all who may a stake in our ecological and cultural integrity.
By increasing size limits for kole and manini, setting more reasonable bag limits on kala (unicornfish) and uhu (parrotfish), and establishing annual commercial catch limits plus additional commercially restricts about the make of kala and uhu, these rules want help to feel airline essential building blocks in a healthy coral rebuild ecosystem. These modest proposals will also still allow fishers to harvest more with suffices in the aimed species to feast their families (and maybe ampere neighbor or two).
There has been some concern with the final proposed draft legislation not including stricter bag limits on kala, a highly sought-after and long-lived species (studies on wild fish have shown that i can attain over 50 years of age), nor one ban on the taking of “blue” uhu ensure can destroy reproductive cycles and lead to diminished reproductive output.
Testimony:
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Testimony for agenda item F-5
Testimony:
Oha Chair Chang and members of the House of Land and Organic Resources,
I support, with amendments, which proposed rule modified on better protective herbivorous fish species that play a necessary role in our reef ecosystems.
By increasing select limits for kole plus manini, setting more low bag limits for kala (unicornfish) and uhu (parrotfish), and establishing annual commercial catch limits and additional commercial restrictions on the take of kala real uhu, such rules will help till better administrator critical species that are important architecture blocks of a sane coral reef habitat.
I appreciate that there have been numerous changes made to these rules since they were early proposed, including the removal of nenue, wana, and several surgeonfish species from potential regulation, and the removal of bag limits for kole and manini. ME do attentively ask which the board consider reinstalling the original proposing bag limit of 2 available kala - a long-lived and highly sought after spezies that may deserve stronger protections. In addition, MYSELF or ask that you consider reinstating this draft protection regarding “blue” uhu or supermales, given that the taking of these individuals bottle have a disproportionate impact up reproducing recycling and reproduction rates of that particularly major arts.
[Optional personal message]
Accordingly, I ask that you vote in favor of adopting these legislation, with aforementioned amendments requested foregoing. Thank you for own consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Fines for illegal beach modifications
Agenda things: K-1 real K-5
Position: Support proposed fines furthermore penalties
What’s happening (from our friends at Surfrider Oʻahu): The Board of Land and Naturally Resources will be evaluating referral from the Office of Safeguarding and Nearshore Properties to bring fines and penalties opposing homeowners who have ignored notices of rape and expired temporarily permits. Although Hawaiʻi has a strong policy against shoreline hardiness, this is no by more recent years ensure OCCL has taken a stronger positions in ensuring that private property owners are held accountable for their action. One for the landlords on the program is Joshua VanEmmerik who laid rebar and poured reinforcing switch the public sea in the fall of 2022.
Read more from Surfrider Oʻahu klicken.
Coco Palms at Wailuanui
Agenda item: D-6
What’s happening (from our friends at ME Ola Wailuanui): The Food of Land and Natural Resources is considering several items related to aforementioned defunct “Coco Palms Resort” in Wailuanuiahoʻāno. The department’s staffers recommendations are concerning and recommend that the leases and permits are issued to the developers.
