Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Assess The Impact Of Jug Line Fishing And To Adopt Rules Pursuant To Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Necessary To Address Any Concerns Raised By The Assessment.
Summary
H.R. 198 is a House Resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to assess the impacts of jug line fishing and, if warranted by that assessment, adopt administrative rules under Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The resolution describes jug line fishing as a largely unattended, passive fishing method that uses floating jugs or similar buoyant devices to suspend baited hooks offshore, often targeting large fish with high-test line. It emphasizes that the practice can be non-selective and may result in the hooking, entanglement, or injury of non-target marine species.
The resolution grounds its request in marine conservation concerns, including threats to sharks, green sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and hawksbill sea turtles, as well as the problem of lost gear becoming persistent marine debris. It specifically references the September 2025 death of a young Hawaiian monk seal, RS34 (Moana), as an example of the risks associated with jug line fishing and as evidence that the practice may be incompatible with responsible resource management.
Impact
Because H.R. 198 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not itself amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes or create new legal requirements. Instead, it requests that DLNR study jug line fishing and use its existing rulemaking authority under Chapter 91 to address any problems identified by the assessment. If DLNR acts on the resolution, the practical impact could include new administrative rules affecting recreational or commercial fishing methods, gear use, and enforcement related to jug lines and similar rig variants.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of tighter oversight or possible restriction of jug line fishing, with a clear conservation-oriented framing. The measure presents the practice as harmful to marine life and the marine environment, and it treats regulatory action as a necessary response to documented wildlife impacts. No opposing testimony or recorded votes were provided in the materials, so the available context shows only the resolution’s affirmative, protective stance.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between marine conservation and fishing access. Supporters of the resolution view jug line fishing as unsustainable, non-selective, and dangerous to protected and endangered species, while potential opponents would likely argue that any future rules could limit a fishing method used by some anglers and may require careful definition of what gear or practices are covered. The resolution also raises an implicit issue of whether DLNR should regulate through rulemaking after an assessment, rather than through a more direct statutory prohibition.
Same As
Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Assess The Impact Of Jug Line Fishing And To Adopt Rules Pursuant To Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Necessary To Address Any Concerns Raised By The Assessment.