Council Mulling Moratorium on Black Coral Harvest Convenes for Three-Day Meeting

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The federally funded Western Pacific Fishery Management Council mulling a five-year moratorium on black coral harvesting in federal waters around Hawaii convened Tuesday for a three-day meeting.

HONOLULU — The council mulling a five-year moratorium on black coral harvesting in federal waters around Hawaii convened for a three-day meeting.


The federally funded Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will also consider limits on fishing bigeye tuna in U.S. exclusive economic zones in the western Pacific.


The council's Scientific and Statistical Committee earlier this month recommended a temporary ban on collecting black coral, the Hawaii state gemstone, citing data showing younger populations of the ocean resource were declining.


The council is scheduled to consider the suggestion on Wednesday.


"The black coral fishery, which is over 40 years old, may be in trouble if adjustments to current management measures are not made," said a council report submitted for discussion on Tuesday.


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Black coral is an organism that grows in deep waters after it attaches itself to a rock. It grows like a plant, and is favored for use in jewelry.


Most Hawaiian black coral is taken from the Auau Channel between Maui and Lanai.


The council will analyze whether black coral populations are declining and how invasions of soft coral native to the western Atlantic and the Caribbean are affecting black coral development.


The state's biggest retailer of black coral, Maui Divers of Hawaii Ltd., has criticized the recommendation for a moratorium as unnecessary.


Bob Taylor, president and chief executive of Honolulu-based Maui Divers, said the black coral population was not declining.


The council's recommendations will need to be approved by the Department of Commerce.


Its actions will only affect the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones extending three to 200 miles (five to 320 kilometers) from shores on western Pacific islands, including Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa.


The Scientific and Statistical Committee has recommended, however, that the state of Hawaii adopt similar restrictions on harvesting black coral in its waters that extend from the shore to three miles (five kilometers).


The council, citing an estimate by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, said about 85 percent of black coral harvested in Hawaii is collected in state waters within three miles (five kilometers) of the shoreline.


The council is responsible for protecting fishery resources in the U.S. exclusive economic zones around western Pacific islands.


It also aims to preserve opportunities for sustainable fishing in these areas.


Source: Associated Press