Authorities seized the vessel Wai‘aka off Hawai'i's coast after it was found about seven miles offshore. Longline fishing is prohibited within the state's 12-mile territorial sea boundary, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers boarded a boat after observing it deploy approximately four miles of longline, in violation of state regulations. The boat's captain, 52-year-old Kona resident Konane Zager, was cited under HRS Section 189-2.5 and is now facing criminal charges. Longline fishing, known for its potential to unintentionally capture various species and disrupt marine ecosystems, remains a significant concern in marine conservation efforts, as reported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Zager is charged with a petty misdemeanor for illegally catching three ahi tunas. Two of the fish, weighing 95 and 103 pounds, were dead and had an estimated market value of $1251. The vessel was seized, and the two dead fish were confiscated, while the third fish was released alive. Zager is scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on June 19, as stated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
