A state House committee deferred a series of bills backed by Niihau residents to sustain fishing and other marine life for future generations.

The Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs plans to submit a short-form bill relating to ocean resources to provide funding to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Chairwoman Rep. Faye Hanohano said the state agency needs money to study coastal resources statewide.

"It’s going to take a lot of work when they need to go to all of the islands to look at the coastal issue," Hano- hano said.

She noted the decision to defer four bills — House Bills 1685, 1686, 1687 and 1921 concerning fishing restrictions off Niihau by outsiders — was to strike a balance between supporters and opponents. Depletion of shorelines resources is occurring statewide, not just on Niihau, Hanohano said.

"All places have the same problems."

Niihau residents have expressed concerns about declining fish stocks and outsiders traveling to the island to fish and pick opihi. The following bills centered in on their desire to sustain shoreline fishing at Niihau for future generations:

» HB 1685 establishes a community-based subsistence fishing area to restrict fishing off Niihau.

» HB 1686 requires DLNR to adopt rules to regulate the taking or harvesting of opihi from coastal or nearshore waters of Niihau by nonresidents. It also prohibits harvesting of opihi until administrative rules and penalties are adopted by DLNR.

» HB 1687 prohibits commercial fishing within 1 mile off Niihau’s shoreline.

» HB 1921 prohibits the taking or possessing of aquatic life or fish feeding in waters within 2 miles of an island with a population between 100 and 500 individuals.

Bruce Robinson, great-great-grandson of Eliza Sinclair, who bought Niihau in 1864 for $10,000 in gold from King Kamehameha V, testified before the committee Wednesday on the need to protect resources for future generations.

"Our island resources are very limited," he said.

After the hearing, Robinson’s wife, Leiana, said shoreline resources that residents depend on will continue to drop if the administration fails to take swift action on implementing restrictions.

Niihau is referred to as "The Forbidden Island" because entry to the island is only by invitation from the Robinson family. About 100 Native Hawaiians live there.

A news conference was held at the state Capitol in November at which Niihau residents voiced their deep concerns about the drop in the fish population around the island. Robinson said fish have been depleted by two-thirds over the years. DLNR Director William Aila Jr., who attended the conference, has said DLNR is working on a set of administrative rules to involve bag limits, equipment prohibition and penalties.

Jacqueline Kanna, who submitted written testimony, opposed the bill, stating Hawaii residents are being punished for a few trespassers who encroached on Niihau’s shoreline.

"Niihau has been for generations an area of resource for both Niihau communities and communities on Kauai," she said. "For generations, the fishermen of Kauai respected the island of Niihau and its people. Why should all fishermen be punished for the trespasses of a few? There should never be an exclusionary right or zone established anywhere in the main Hawaiian Islands that prohibits fishing rights."

The Hawaii Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition Inc. also is in opposition, pointing out it would potentially redefine the rights of private landowners with oceanfront properties, resulting in more loss of access to marine resources by Hawaii residents.

Aila testified Wednesday that DLNR would prefer activities around Niihau be managed by administrative rule than statute. Such rules would allow a more detailed management plan and enable the state agency to make amendments.