FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: KAHU CHARLES KAULUWEHI MAXWELL SR.
SUBJECT: BABY SHARKS KILLED AT OLOWALU
DATE: MAY 6, 2002
PUKALANI MAUI. KAHU CHARLES KAULUWEHI MAXWELL SR., CULTURAL CONSULTANT AND HAWAIIAN PRACTITIONER SAID TODAY THAT THE KILLING OF 9 BLACK TIP 'PUP' SHARKS ON HEKILI POINT OF OLOWALU, BY NET FISHERMEN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. HE SAID THAT THE SHARKS WERE CONSIDERED BY-CATCH BY FISHERMAN WHO LAID MOEMOE (LAYING) NETS. AFTER THEIR NET IS LAID IN THE OCEAN FOR SEVERAL HOURS THEY CHECK THE NETS FOR FISH.
HEKILI POINT IN OLOWALU IS KNOWN TO CONTAIN NUMEROUS SHARKS AND THE HOME OF BLACKTIP SHARKS. ACCORDING TO MR FRANCIS OISHI, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE FISHERY BRANCH CHIEF, PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO LAY THEIR NETS FOR 4 HOURS DURING A 24 HOUR PERIOD AND MUST BE CHECKED EVERY TWO HOURS FOR UNWANTED BY CATCH. IT'S A LAW THAT WAS PASSED BY THE STATE LAWMAKERS HOWEVER IT IS NOT EASY TO ENFORCE BECAUSE A D.O.C.A.R.E. OFFICER MUST WITNESS THE NET BEING PLACED AND THE TIME IT IS REMOVED.
ACCORDING TO MR. NORMAN NELSON WHO TOOK THE ENCLOSED PICTURES, EVERY SEVERAL MONTHS THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS DISCARDED ON THE BEACH AND ALL FROM THE BY-CATCH OF NET FISHERMEN. HE HAS WITNESSED THIS MANY TIMES AS HE HAS RESIDED IN THE AREA FOR 20 YEARS.
MAXWELL SAID THAT EVERYONE LIVING IN HAWAII SHOULD BE CONCERNED OF THIS WASTEFUL PRACTICES AS THE ANIMALS IN THE OCEAN ARE BEING AFFECTED BY ALL KINDS OF PRESSURES THAT ARE PLACED ON THESE RESOURCES FROM CHEMICALS, RUNOFFS AND OVER FISHING IN THE OCEAN AND THEN HAVING FISHERMEN WANTONLY KILL THESE SHARKS AND DISCARD THEM ON THE SHORE IS NOT PONO AND SURELY NOT THE HAWAIIAN WAY OF PROTECTING THE OCEAN'S BOUNTY.
