Why the West Hawaii fishing area exists

The purpose of the West Hawaii regional fishery management area shall be to: (1) Ensure the sustainability of the State's nearshore ocean resources; (2) Identify areas with resource and use conflicts; (3) Provide management plans as well as implementing regulations for minimizing user conflicts and resource depletion, through the designation of sections of coastal waters in the West Hawaii regional fishery management area as fish replenishment areas where certain specified fish harvesting activities are prohibited, and other areas where anchoring and ocean recreation activities are restricted; (4) Establish a system of day-use mooring buoys in high-use coral reef areas and limit anchoring in some of these areas to prevent anchor damage to corals; (5) Identify areas and resources of statewide significance for protection; (6) Carry out scientific research and monitoring of the nearshore resources and environment; and (7) Provide for substantive involvement of the community in resource management decisions for this area through facilitated dialogues with community residents and resource users.