Study: Molokai impacted less by overfishing ADVERTISING Study: Molokai impacted less by overfishing WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Molokai is among the state’s least impacted areas by overfishing, a 17-year multiagency study found. The study, which began in 2000 and encompassed
Study: Molokai impacted less by overfishing
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Molokai is among the state’s least impacted areas by overfishing, a 17-year multiagency study found.
The study, which began in 2000 and encompassed 25,000 in-water surveys, found overfishing to be the primary cause of reef fish declines in Hawaii. Maui and Oahu were most impacted.
Molokai is more fortunate than the other islands in terms of fish numbers, being that it has the country’s longest contiguous fringing reefs and is relatively free of the development that plagues other islands.
The abundance of food fish species — those primarily caught for human consumption — is lower in populated areas, while there is no difference in the abundance of nonfood fish species between populated and unpopulated areas, according to the study. This leads scientists to think fishing, not other human influences, is primarily responsible for the differences.
Fisherman and conservationist Kelson Poepoe said he took it upon himself to spread awareness and encourage people to harvest responsibly on Molokai.
“No need be greedy,” Poepoe said. “Everybody can have one share in the food that comes out of the ocean.”
Pearl Harbor is most backlogged shipyard
HONOLULU (AP) — Pearl Harbor is the Navy’s most backlogged shipyard, despite all four shipyards being in poor condition, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The report says poor conditions contributed to inefficiencies, robbing the Navy of ship and submarine time at sea.
“Navy data show that the cost of backlogged restoration and maintenance projects at the shipyards has grown by 41 percent over five years, to a Navy-estimated $4.86 billion, and it will take at least 19 years through fiscal year 2036 to clear,” according to the report.
From 2000-16, 49 of 57 maintenance jobs to Pearl Harbor were delayed, resulting in 4,128 lost operational days for nuclear-powered submarines, according to the report. Naval Sea Systems Command is putting together a long-range infrastructure plan for each yard, officials said.
