MEDIA RELEASE

The West Hawaii Fisheries Council (WHFC), a community-based marine advisory organization will hold its regular monthly meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club at Honokohau Harbor.  

The council has 10 active committees that have been reorganized to reflect the council’s latest strategic planning, completed in December and adopted in February. 

The new committees include a Committee of the Whole to track recommendations of the WHFC with the Division of Aquatic Resources, a division of DLNR. 

It has also added committees that were mandated by Act 306: one on moorings to ensure maintenance of the existing moorings and evaluate new sites and another on a ‘no take’ initiative. Another committee on enforcement has been created as well as retaining the committees on government affairs, aquaculture; community fisheries education and outreach (which conducts the monthly Kawaihae Local Resource Council meetings); membership and traditional and customary rights committees.  

The West Hawaii Fisheries Council is always seeking new members to sustain its broad scope. All of the interested ocean community are invited to attend council meetings on the third Thursday of every month or to join one of the council committees.  

Applications to join the council can be picked up at the Kona/Honokohau Division of Aquatic Resources office at Honokohau Harbor or from a member of the council.  

The mission of the West Hawaii Fisheries Council is to “manage fishery activities to ensure sustainability, enhances nearshore resources, minimizes resource depletion and manages conflicts of use.” 

The council was created under Act 306 by the Hawaii State Legislature to serve as the community source for formulating and recommending resource management issues for West Hawaii fisheries.

For more information, contact Marni Herkes at 987-2171 or marnih@hawaiiantel.net.