Ocean Zone News Blog

Reported by: Ron Mizutani
Email: rmizutani@khon.com
Last Update: 6/23 8:53 pm

KHON2 News has learned the name of a fishing vessel that is being investigated by law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA officials say the boat’s crew was illegally fishing in a special preservation area inside the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. Officials are withholding the name of the boat during their investigation.

But KHON2 was told Tuesday the boat in question is the “Ka Imi Kai.” Investigators have interviewed the boat’s captain, crew and owner. Enforcement officers also confiscated more than $1,700 worth of fish from the boat.

Written by KGMB9 News – news@kgmb9.com
June 22, 2009 06:32 PM

A Honolulu fishing boat was allegedly caught in the act of fishing in illegal waters. These are United States Coast Guard airplane pictures of a ship in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Investigators say the plane’s crew captured the people on the ship abruptly pulling fishing lines out of the water. Later that day, the coast guard crews returned and found the lines cast again.

The ship was ordered back to Honolulu for investigation and possible fines. The nearly 14,000 square miles around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are the world’s largest

New York Times

Published: June 21, 2009
Most of the world’s important commercial fish species have been declining for years. Nearly one-fourth are unable, essentially, to reproduce. The biggest cause of the deterioration in ocean health — bigger than climate change or pollution — is overfishing. American fisheries are in better shape than most but not by much.

By George O’Young
Taiwan News

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has designated June 8, 2009 as the “World Oceans Day,” calling for the protecting of oceans around the globe which play a crucial role in maintaining the many ecosystem services.
For World Oceans Day, here is an overview of some of the UNEP programs around the world.

Oceans are the source of most rainfall and they regulate the earth’s temperatures and wind patterns. Though generally recognized as several ‘separate’ oceans, these waters comprise one global interconnected body of salt water often referred to as the World Ocean or global ocean.

(Bluegrassbulletin.com)

It is almost incomprehensible how fast the Obama administration has moved to choke the life out of liberty in the name of government control. Now he has launched an aggressive plan to engage in “zoning” the oceans and Great Lakes, a plan he hopes to implement within the next 180 days.

In a White House memo released last week Obama said:

“This framework should be a comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based approach that addresses conservation, economic activity, user conflict, and sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lake resources consistent with international law…”