Cultural practices in monument area move council to allow sale of fish
The Western Pacific fishing council has stuck with its decision to allow the sale of some fish caught in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument expansion area, arguing that more access to fishing both in Hawaii and around the Pacific region helps perpetuate cultural practices.
During its 194th meeting last week, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, or Wespac, amended its recently established permitting system that allows noncommercial and subsistence fishing in the monument expansion area, or MEA, which is protected from commercial fishing.
The initial system gave subsistence fishers — those with a Native Hawaiian Subsistence Practices Fishing Permit — the ability to sell up to $15,000 worth of fish caught in the area to recoup fuel, food, bait and other costs of that fishing trip.
