Hawaii anglers split over measure to ban the use of drones for fishing

Hawaii anglers split over measure to ban the use of drones for fishing

Source: hawaii newsnow

5/12/2022

A state measure that would ban the use of drones in fishing is awaiting the governor’s signature ― and has left the fishing community split.

The use of drones is seen as a modern way to fish.

Some anglers like it because it allows them to go where they could never go before. Others say that’s exactly the problem.

Drones allow anglers to take their fishing lines hundreds of yards out into the ocean and drop their bait exactly where they want it.

“We can get the lines out with drones that we cannot get them out in other ways,” said Big Island drone angler Albert Nakaji.

Nakaji has been fishing for 65 years. He has been drone fishing for the last three years.

“Every time new technology has been introduced, it causes change, and change, always, always, always creates conflict,” Nakaji said.

But amid concerns about lines getting lost offshore and killing wildlife, lawmakers recently passed a bill to ban the use of drones for fishing.

The state Department of Natural Resources supports the proposal, saying Hawaii’s marine life is becoming devastated by over-fishing.

Maui boat captain Jordan Correa is in the ocean almost daily and supports the proposed ban. He said he sees the trash that anglers leave behind.