• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Briefing
  • In Depth
  • Travel
    • Americas & Caribbean
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • Red Sea & Africa
    • DIVE Travel Awards
  • Gear
    • Kit Reviews
  • Learning
  • UW Photography
    • Dive’s Big Shot
    • Featured Photographers
    • Featured Videographer
    • Underwater Camera Gear
  • Destination Guides
    • Curaçao
    • Egypt
      • Introduction
      • Sinai, Sharm & Dahab
      • Hurghada and the Bays
      • Liveaboards
      • Egypt’s marine life
      • Wreck Dives
    • Fiji
      • Introduction
      • Bligh Water, Lomativiti, Lau Groups
      • Beqa Lagoon & Kadavu Group
      • Taveuni & The Somosomo Strait
      • Mamanuca & Yasawa Group
      • Fiji Marine Life
    • Mexico
      • Introduction
      • Revillagigedo Archipelago & Guadalupe Island
      • Sea of Cortez & Baja California
      • Cozumel • The Riviera Maya • Isla Mujeres
      • The Central Pacific
      • The Cenotes
    • Philippines
      • An Introduction
      • Need to Know
      • Top Dives
      • Marine Life
      • Coron Bay wrecks
      • Topside Activities
      • Video Playlist
    • St Helena
      • Introduction
      • Topside
      • Dive Sites
      • Marine Life
      • Wreck Dives
      • Whale Sharks
    • Tobago
    • Siladen Resort & Spa
  • Magazine
    • Issue previews
    • Subscribe
    • Podcasts
    • Book Reviews
    • DIVE Bookstore
    • Advertise with DIVE
  • Quizzes
DIVE Magazine

DIVE Magazine

Scuba Diving Luxury Travel Magazine

Hawaii first US state to ban shark fishing

3 February 2022
2 minutes

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link

By Mark 'Crowley' Russell

On 1 January 2022, Hawaii became the first US state to ban shark fishing in state waters. Violation of the ban could see fishers slapped with a fine of up to US$10,000.

Act 51 (House Bill 553) of the 2021 State Legislature makes it ‘illegal to knowingly capture, entangle, or kill a shark in state marine waters.’ The new law applies to all shark species found in Hawaiian waters, although some exceptions have been made while the process is implemented by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), which oversees the management of public lands and water resources, including coastal areas and the state’s ocean waters.

People with ‘special activity permits’ issued by the DLNR are exempted from the ban, as is shark fishing ‘for public safety purposes’, or sharks ‘captured, entangled, or killed for self-defence or the defence of another.’ 

‘Our Department is well aware of how important sharks are to maintain healthy marine ecosystems. And we recognize their importance for native Hawaiian cultural practices and beliefs,’ said Brian Neilson, Administrator of Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources. ‘It’s important to recognize that the new shark fishing ban goes into effect January 1, 2022, but DLNR still has work to do before it’s fully implemented.’


You may also like

Blue whales confirmed in Seychelles return
ByDIVE StaffDec 2, 2023

Blue whales confirmed in Seychelles return

Marine Curios #2 Nereis sandersi, a deep ocean worm
ByDIVE ContributorsNov 25, 2023

Marine Curios #2 Nereis sandersi, a deep ocean worm

Orcas sink yet another boat in the Mediterranean
ByMark ‘Crowley’ RussellNov 24, 2023

Orcas sink yet another boat in the Mediterranean

a juvenile Periphylla periphylla or crown jellyfish
ByMark ‘Crowley’ RussellNov 17, 2023

Marine Curios #1 – Periphylla periphylla, or helmet jellyfish

Horrible natural histories – the sex lives of sea devils
ByDIVE ContributorsNov 8, 2023

Horrible natural histories – the sex lives of sea devils

a common lionfish found of Kas, Turkey
ByDIVE ContributorsNov 3, 2023

Lionfish invasion threatens the Mediterranean


According to a statement released by the DLNR, the Department will soon begin the public administrative process to implement the law, which will include the establishment of a non-commercial permit for the take of sharks, the conditions of which are to include ‘native Hawaiian cultural protocol, size and species restrictions, and a prohibition on species listed as endangered or threatened.’

The DLNR has recommended that fishers avoid areas known to be frequented by sharks, especially pupping areas, and use barbless circle hooks in case a shark is caught accidentally.

Violation of the new law will be regarded as a misdemeanour, but will carry a fine of $500 for a first offence; $2,000 for a second; and $10,000 for a third or subsequent offence. An administrative fine of up to $10,000 for each shark captured or entangled, whether alive or dead, will also be imposed.

  • Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link

Filed Under: Briefing Tagged With: Marine Conservation, Shark Finning, Sharks

Primary Sidebar

click here to subscribe to DIVE

Sign up to our newsletter

Popular Now

DIVE Magazine Winter 2023/24

DIVE Magazine Winter 2023/24

Read More
Diving Vancouver Island: bigger, better, faster, meaner

Diving Vancouver Island: bigger, better, faster, meaner

Scubapro free octopus offer for Winter 2023

Scubapro free octopus offer for Winter 2023

garmin descent mk3 and t2 transceiver

New Garmin Descent Mk3 to feature diver-diver messaging

BSAC Annual Diving Incident Report 2022 published

BSAC Annual Diving Incident Report 2022 published

Footer

DIVE Magazine Spring 23 print issue

FOLLOW DIVE

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Want to access DIVE on your tablet or smartphone? Press the Apple, Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device

Footer Apple Footer Android Footer Mac-PC

More from DIVE

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with DIVE Magazine
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Site by Syon Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link