Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, October 14, 2016
DLNR: Fishing Fleet Labor Law not our Kuleana
By News Release @ 8:41 PM :: 5772 Views :: Labor, Small Business

DLNR COMMENTS ON PETITION REGARDING COMMERCIAL MARINE LICENSING

News Release from DLNR,  Oct 14, 2016

(Honolulu) – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is aware of and concerned about allegations regarding working conditions on commercial fishing vessels.  DLNR is also aware of efforts by various government agencies and the industry itself to investigate these allegations and take appropriate actions.

On September 21, 2016, five people submitted a petition to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) requesting rule amendments relating to commercial marine licensing (CML) procedures.  These proposed amendments relate to the issuance of the CML to foreign nationals who are hired on Hawaii-based longline vessels who land their catches in Hawaii.  The domestic longline fleet is State’s largest fishery in terms of landings (pounds) and ex-vessel value (dollars).  Last year, longliners landed 34 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of $94.2 million.

DLNR Division of Aquatics (DAR) administrator, Dr. Bruce Anderson explained, “The petition’s amendments appear to focus on labor issues that are not part of DLNR’s jurisdiction.”  DLNR does issue CMLs to individuals who conduct fishing activities in marine waters (regardless if caught within or outside state waters) and the marine life is landed in Hawaii for commercial purposes.  Applicants for the CML are required to provide relevant information on, among other things, identity and immigration status. Applicants who are foreign nationals must provide their passports and the Dept. of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) form I-95 ‘Crewman’s Landing Permit’ as qualifying documents.

DLNR provides the documents to the applicant to sign, and their signature indicates their agreement to the CML terms and conditions.  The terms and conditions pertain to fishing for marine life for commercial purpose. Other terms relate to non-transferability, lawful admittance into the U.S., license fees, and fishing report requirements.

The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) conducts boardings of commercial fishing vessels independently and jointly as part of a Joint Enforcement Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Crew members who don’t have valid CMLs can be warned or cited.  Acting DOCARE Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla said, “We have cited crew members for not possessing a CML and since many crew members do not have entry visas, the owner or captain of their vessel has to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for court appearances and to ensure compliance with federal laws.

DOCARE does not have the authority to investigate immigration and labor issues.  Our main focus is enforcement of state laws and rules relating to the State’s natural resources.

“While we are clearly concerned about recent media reports regarding working conditions on fishing vessels, our responsibilities currently involve enforcing DAR CML rules and any violations associated with the Joint Enforcement Agreement with NOAA,” concluded Anderson.

The BLNR is scheduled to consider the petition during its meeting on Friday.

# # #

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT