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An Oahu retailer last week was given his second citation for selling undersized seafood.
Hawaii Environmental Court Judge David W. Lo fined Alfonso M. Chua of Marivic Fresh Seafoods &Meat, in the Chinatown Market Place, $2,000 on Friday.
During an inspection of the business Nov. 18, an enforcement officer from the Division of Conservation and Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources found several fish that appeared to be below the minimum size limit of three pounds, according to a DLNR news release Monday.
After weighing the fish, the officer cited the 50-year-old Chua for selling four undersized ahi. The smallest fish was 1.87 pounds, while the largest weighed 2.27 pounds. The fish were being offered for sale at a price of $6.95 per pound, the news release said.
Chua was fined $500 per fish. It was his second violation. He was found guilty and fined $150 on June 9 for selling undersized Kona crab. Regulations prohibit possession or sale of any Kona crab less than 4 inches in length.
Such violations are criminal petty misdemeanor offenses, with minimum fines of at least $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense. The Board of Land and Natural Resources can additionally pursue administrative penalties of up to $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation and $3,000 for a third violation.