The Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has levied the maximum administrative penalties on a commercial longline fisher caught using illegal gear to catch tuna.
“This action sends a clear message that illegal longline fishing in Hawai‘i’s state waters will not be tolerated,” Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Acting Chair Ryan K.P. Kanakaʻole said in a release. “Our fisheries laws exist to protect Hawai‘i’s marine resources and ensure that fishing practices are conducted responsibly and sustainably.”
On 7 May 2025, Hawai‘i Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers observed Konane Zager deploying 3.69 nautical miles of longline fishing gear off his vessel Waiʻaka. Not only was the length of line used more than three times the legal limit, Zager was fishing within state waters where longline fishing is prohibited. Officers documented Zager haul in three yellowfin tuna, two of which he sold.
The state’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) recommended that regulators impose the maximum penalties on Zager, which include USD 1,000 (EUR 859) for longline fishing within state waters for the first time, USD 1,000 for each ahi tuna taken, and USD 6,052 (EUR 5,198) to compensate the state’s investigation and enforcement costs for a total fine of USD 10,052 (EUR 8,633). The BLNR unanimously voted to adopt DAR’s recommendations while also revoking Zager’s commercial marine license for one year.
“State law prohibits longline fishing in state waters to protect local fisheries and traditional fishing grounds. The board’s decision reflects the seriousness of this violation and the commitment of our enforcement and resource management teams to uphold these protections,” DAR Administrator Brian Neilson said in a release.
The state has also contacted NOAA Fisheries to investigate any violations of federal law.
