Sustainable ocean practices are needed

Conserving Hawaii's ocean resources is of utmost importance and not only for the enjoyment of kamaaina or because of the tourism industry, but because it feeds us. From the first Polynesian settlers to present-day islanders, Hawaii's inhabitants have relied on the ocean to meet many of their dietary needs. In the days of the kapu system, every man took only what he needed for his own household. Today commercial fishermen exploit Hawaii's waters to compete in a global economy.

A good example of how not to deplete Hawaii's resources while still bringing in large amounts of food is the strategy of companies seeking to develop or expand open-ocean fish farms. This effectively combats overfishing by raising fish in a closed area — much as the early Hawaiians did with fishponds. One company is proposing a 247-acre open ocean fish farm off Kawaihae in Maui, where they believe they could grow 12 million pounds of fish per year; another is seeking to expand their fish farm off Ewa Beach from 28 acres to 61, hoping to boost annual production of moi from 1.2 million pounds to 5 million.

Conserving ocean life is not just a local issue, it is of worldwide concern. Hawaii can lead the way by protecting our environment while responsibly using the blessings of our surrounding waters.