LETTERS

Re “Honey, I saved the fish, “ editorial, Dec. 30, 2008

Contrary to The Times’ editorial, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council has been an excellent steward of the offshore fisheries in the U.S. Pacific Islands and understands the benefits of marine reserves.

In 1987, we were the first to prohibit drift gill-net fishing throughout our jurisdiction (1.5 million square miles). We also prohibited bottom trawling and other nondiscriminatory and potentially destructive fishing methods. We were one of the first to develop limited-entry fisheries (1980s: N.W. Hawaiian Islands bottom fish and lobster; 1990-2000: Hawaii and American Samoa longline). For the longline fisheries, we also imposed closed areas, observer programs and a mandatory vessel monitoring system -- another national first. We also developed the nation’s first ecosystem-based fishery management plan.

We have no overfishing of domestically managed stocks. Our only overfished stock was depleted by foreign vessels before our establishment. The council has a Marine Protected Area (MPA) policy, which recognizes the usefulness of MPAs.

However, there is no clear scientific justification for the marine reserves proposed by President Bush. Moreover, environmental, social and economic effects should be fully assessed, and the views of the indigenous people should be given full and fair consideration.

Sean Martin

Honolulu

The writer is the chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.