Pacific Fisheries Coalition represents a unique collaboration between conservationists and fishermen to promote the protection and responsible use of marine resources through education and advocacy in Hawai`i and the Pacific.

A joint project of the Hawaii Audubon Society and the Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation, PFC has received major support from the PEW Charitable Trusts, the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, and the Marisla Foundation.

* Pacific Fisheries Coalition Annual Report 2007 * NEW

IN THE PRESS

Group claims fishery meeting decisions void (June 24, 2008)

The Western and Central Pacific Network, a Honolulu-based group which monitors the efficiency in ocean resource management, claims decisions made during two days of the four-day Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meetings are null and void because the public was not given proper notice about the meetings. (read article, THE GARDEN ISLAND)

'Deep seven' fishing ban extended (June 20, 2008)

Seven popular bottomfish will remain off-limits for fishermen in the main Hawaiian Islands until Nov. 15, 11 weeks longer than the original ban, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council decided yesterday. (read article, The Honolulu Advertiser)

* WHITE PAPER* - Marine Reserve Initiatives in Hawaii 1999-2007

Legislative History of Marine Protected Areas, right-to-fish fight (2007)

We are running out of fish, at least wild-caught fish. Such headlines, and the need for "sustainable" fishing, continue to show up in the media. But is "sustainable" fishing even possible? Thirty years ago fisheries managers were taught that "surplus" production could be safely harvested and that all they needed to do was determine what the surplus was. Now we are coming to the realization that surplus production is probably a myth....(HTML)

PRESS RELEASE
ENVIRONMENTAL & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR WESPAC CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AND THE RESIGNATION OF WESPAC DIRECTOR KITTY SIMONDS HONOLULU: JUNE 20, 2007

CONTACT:
LINDA PAUL: linpaul@aloha.net
KEIKO BONK: nwhibonk@earthlink.net
TINA OWENS: tinaowens@hawaii.rr.com
MAKALA KAAUMOANA: makaala@hawaiian.net

A Native Hawaiian cultural organization, Na Imi Pono, three of Hawaii's leading environmental organizations -- the Hawaii Audubon Society, the Snorkel Bob Foundation, and the Conservation Council for Hawaii -- and a national science and policy organization, the Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI), wish to publicly state that they are very concerned about the recent complaints filed against the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council (WESPAC).

Collectively, all five organizations are calling for the resignation of Kitty Simonds, the Executive Director of WESPAC. Collectively they stated, "These complaints are from very credible persons, are well documented, and demonstrate a systematic pattern of behavior that is at best unethical and at worst illegal. Spending federal taxpayer money on political lobbying activities undermines the trust of the public in our government. These are only the latest allegations that Ms. Simonds has acted improperly as the Executive Director of WESPAC. It is clear that she has been responsible for allowing and fostering the unethical climate within WESPAC and we believe WESPAC needs a clean start and that Ms. Simonds should step down."

In order to ensure that WESPAC gets a clean start, these organizations are also calling on Hawaii's Congressional Delegation to exercise oversight of WESPAC. "We take these allegations very seriously and think that our congressional leaders should as well," said, Bill Chandler, Vice President of MCBI. "I am very concerned these complaints appear to document a pattern of disregarding science in favor of political agendas by a federal agency that is responsible for the health of our fisheries."

William Aila, the Director of Na Imi Pono said "I am particularly concerned because it appears that WESPAC has been attempting to hide their illegal activity under the cover of Native Hawaiian practices, creating divisions within the Hawaiian community, and creating a climate in which it erroneously appears that Hawaiians are discriminating against non-Hawaiians."

Marjorie Ziegler, the Executive Director of Conservation Council for Hawaii said, "WESPAC is a federal agency charged with protecting and managing our fisheries, but it appears from the evidence in the complaints that they are instead engaging in illegal activity designed to undermine these goals."

Robert Wintner, the Executive Director of the Snorkel Bob Foundation, said "I think that the complaints filed against WESPAC represent a growing recognition that the federal government has done a very poor job managing our fisheries, further undermining the health of Hawaii's reef's. The four women who are giving testimony against WESPAC should be congratulated for their courage and dedication. Very few people are willing to put themselves on the line and challenge a powerful federal agency for the good of Hawaii's people and marine environment."

Linda Paul, the Director of the Aquatics Division of the Hawaii Audubon Society said, "As Hawaii's oldest conservation group, the Audubon Society wishes to state that we think it is very important that our congressional leaders take these complaints very seriously, and do everything they can to support a complete investigation into all allegations."

For more information contact:

William Aila, Director, Na Imi Pono: ailaw001@hawaii.rr.com

Bill Chandler, Vice President, Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI): bill@mcbi.org

Linda Paul, Aquatics Director, Hawaii Audubon Society (HAS): linpaul@aloha.net

Robert Wintner, Executive Director Snorkel Bob Foundation: robertw@snorkelbob.com

Marjorie Ziegler, Executive Director Conservation Council for Hawaii (CCH): mz@conservehi.org

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands proclaimed a National Monument! Visit the NWHI Network.

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* News articles from the Internet Hawaii press

• forums for the fishing community and the Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources personnel to exchange views and work together to achieve sustain able fisheries.

• research papers, reports, and briefings by experts on the status and management needs of Hawaii's fisheries to the Hawai`i State Legislature and Hawaii's congressional delegation.

• educational tools such as a comprehensive webpage, reference brochure, cdrom, classroom materials, and videos to provide information about our marine resources.

• volunteers to visit schools and community groups to talk about the need to conserve and responsibly manage Hawaii's marine resources.

• William Aila, a Hawaiian fisherman and co-founder of the Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation, serves as educator and community spokesman for PFC to malama Hawaii's fisheries by achieving a common ground among managers and users.

• Ellyn Tong, PFC Outreach Coordinator.

• Linda Paul, Executive Director and former President of the Hawaii Audubon Society, serves as the project administrator and fisheries lawyer for PFC.

The Hawai`i Fishermen's Foundation was established in 1991 to foster a better working relationship among all ocean users and support sound fisheries management.

The Hawai`i Audubon Society, founded in 1939, strives to foster community values that result in protection and restoration of native ecosystem and conservation of natural resources through education, science, and advocacy in Hawai`i and the Pacific.

side photo by Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps (ret.)