Haw. Code R. § 13-60.4-7 - Aquarium collecting permit and vessel registration requirements

(a) West Hawai'i aquarium permit. The department may issue West Hawai'i aquarium permits authorizing persons to engage in aquarium collecting activities for species listed in subsection (b) and to use fine meshed traps and nets (other than throw nets) to collect those species in the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area, notwithstanding section 13-75-14, subject to terms and conditions the department deems necessary for the management of the area and its resources. No person, unless exempted from provisions of this chapter by the issuance and possession of a valid special activity permit under section 187A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall engage in aquarium collecting activities within the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area without first having been issued and possessing a West Hawai'i aquarium permit in addition to a valid State of Hawai'i aquarium fish permit. Permits shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance unless revoked sooner, and are non-transferable. In addition to applying any other penalties provided by law, the department may revoke any West Hawai'i aquarium permit for any infraction of these rules or the terms and conditions of the permit, and any person whose permit has been revoked shall not be eligible to apply for another West Hawai'i aquarium permit until the expiration of one year from the date of revocation.

(b) Aquarium species white list. In addition to other regulations deemed necessary for the management of the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area, an aquarium permit holder may only take or possess specimens of the following species of fish for aquarium purposes while within the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area: Acanthurus achilles (Achilles tang), Acanthurus dussumieri (eyestripe surgeonfish), Acanthurus nigricans (goldrim surgeonfish), Acanthurus nigrofuscus (brown surgeonfish), Acanthurus olivaceus (orangeband surgeonfish), Acanthurus thompsoni (Thompson's surgeonfish), Anampses chrysocephalus (psychedelic wrasse), Canthigaster jactator (whitespotted Toby), Centropyge fisheri (Fisher's angelfish), Centropyge potteri (Potter's angelfish), Cephalopholis argus (peacock grouper), Chaetodon kleinii (blacklip butterflyfish), Chaetodon miliaris (milletseed butterflyfish), Chaetodon multicinctus (multiband butterflyfish), Chaetodon quadrimaculatus (fourspot butterflyfish), Chaetodon tinkeri (Tinker's butterflyfish), Cirrhilabrus jordani (flame wrasse), Cirrhitops fasciatus (redbarred hawkfish), Coris gaimard (yellowtail Coris), Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis (chevron tang), Ctenochaetus strigosus (goldring surgeonfish, kole), Dascyllus albisella (Hawaiian Dascyllus), Forcipiger flavissimus (forcepsfish), Gomphosus varius (bird wrasse), Halichoeres ornatissimus (ornate wrasse), Hemitaurichthys polylepis (pyramid butterflyfish), Lutjanus kasmira (bluestripe snapper), Macropharyngodon geoffroy (shortnose wrasse), Melichthys niger (black Durgon), Naso lituratus (orangespine unicornfish), Ostracion meleagris (spotted boxfish), Paracirrhites forsteri (blackside hawkfish), Pseudanthias hawaiiensis (Hawaiian longfin Anthias), Pseudocheilinus octotaenia (eightline wrasse), Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia (fourline wrasse), Pseudojuloides cerasinus (smalltail wrasse), Sufflamen bursa (lei triggerfish), Thalassoma duperrey (saddle wrasse), Xanthichthys auromarginatus (gilded triggerfish), and Zebrasoma flavescens (yellow tang); provided further that:

(1) No Zebrasoma flavescens (yellow tang) may be taken or possessed in violation of section 13-60.4-4(2);

(2) No more than five Ctenochaetus strigosus (goldring surgeonfish or kole) larger than four inches in total length may be taken per day or possessed at any time; and

(3) No more than ten Acanthurus achilles (Achilles tang) may be taken per day, or possessed at any time.

(c) Aquarium collecting vessel registration and marking requirements. All aquarium collecting vessels shall:

(1) Be registered every year with the Division of Aquatic Resources West Hawai'i (DAR-Kona) office to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes within the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area. Each registration shall be valid for one year from the date of registration. The current vessel identification number issued by either the department or the United States Coast Guard shall serve as the registration number for each vessel;

(2) Clearly display the capital letters "AQ" permanently affixed to both sides of the vessel, either near the top of the gunwales or on the superstructure. Unless otherwise specified, the "AQ" letters shall be no less than six inches high and three inches wide in either black or a color that contrasts with the background;

(3) Fly a "stiffened" flag or pennant from the vessel with the letter "A" as specified by the department. The flag or pennant shall be provided at cost to aquarium permittees as specified by the department. The flag or pennant shall be displayed and clearly visible from both sides of the vessel at all times while aquarium collecting gear or collected aquarium marine life or both are onboard;

(4) Display a dive flag at all times when divers are in the water; and

(5) In the event an aquarium collecting vessel becomes inoperable, the operator of the vessel shall immediately notify the department's division of conservation and resources enforcement or United States Coast Guard or both by VHF radio or by cellular phone or both.

(d) Control date. A control date was established in August 1, 2005 to possibly limit participation in the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area commercial aquarium fishery. Persons who begin fishing in the West Hawai'i regional fishery management area commercial aquarium fishery on or after the control date will not be assured continued participation if the department establishes an aquarium limited entry program in the future.

(e) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the department from establishing another control date.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 13-60.4-7

[Eff 12/26/13] (Auth: HRS §§ 187A-5, 188-53, 188F-6) (Imp: HRS §§ 187A-5, 188-53, 188F-3) Comp 3/11/2023 Comp 1/2/2025