New rules suggested for fishermen

Fishermen could face new state rules for catching seven regulated bottom fish.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources recommended last week that commercial bottom fishermen file catch reports after each trip, rather than monthly.

Francis Oishi, state aquatic resource program manager said the increased frequency will enable the state to more accurately predict when fishermen are reaching the yearly quota for certain bottom fish. Fishermen have exceeded the quota in two of the past three years.

The board also recommended that recreational fishermen be limited to five fish a day for any of the seven fish: onaga, ehu, gindai, kalekale, opakapaka, lehi and hapuupuu.

Currently, recreational fishermen are limited in state waters to catching a total of five onaga or ehu.

Ronald Tam, saying he represented the views of 170 fishermen and consumers, said he was opposed to the reporting requirement because it would be "burdensome."

But board member Jerry Edlao said he operated his own business and that doing the paperwork was just part of the job.

"You just got to take the time," Edlao said.

Oishi said the recommendations would go for review to the state attorney general, then a small business advisory board, before going to the governor.

Seed maker donates $100,000 to UH

The world’s biggest seed maker is donating $100,000 to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to set up a scholarship fund at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Monsanto Co. aims to support the education of students in plant sciences, including plant biotechnology and biological engineering.

The University of Hawaii Foundation said Thursday that students may use their scholarship money to pay their tuition and fees and buy books and supplies.

The St. Louis-based company says it needs highly skilled, well-educated workers who are passionate about using science and technology to improve farming and address challenges like drought, malnutrition and hunger.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Opposition hits plan for prison

The state hopes to begin construction next year on a $235 million multipurpose prison to replace the overcrowded Maui Community Correctional Center, officials said last week.

But the plan drew some opposition at an informational briefing in Kahului, the Maui News reported.

Work would be complete by 2013 on what is being called the Maui Regional Public Safety Complex.

The project would ultimately provide an estimated 140 new full-time jobs in addition to the existing jobs at MCCC that would be transferred to the new facility.

But officials from the state departments of Public Safety and Accounting and General Services faced a crowd Thursday that included many people skeptical that the project will actually get built — and others who wanted to debate the merits of incarceration versus rehabilitation, the newspaper said.

Some people also said they thought the facility would be oversize and is unnecessary, despite estimates of future prison populations that indicate rapidly growing numbers of inmates.

Deer-hunting season starts in September

Black-tailed deer hunting season will begin on Kauai in September, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced.

Each hunter will be permitted to take only one antlered buck deer, 3-inch antler minimum.

Permits are available for archery, muzzleloaders and regular rifles, with dates and hunting sectors varying.

The regular rifle permit-tags will be issued via public drawing.

For more details, go to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife website at www. hawaii.gov/dlnr/ dofaw.