Project Leader: University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service in West Hawaii

The West Hawaii Fishery Council (WHFC) Liaison works to coordinate between the WHFC, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR-DAR) and local, isolated fishing communities in the management of their marine resources. The Liaison undertakes the following tasks:

Work to develop and sustain the Local Resource Councils (LRCs), aligned with ahupua`a, in small, isolated fishing communities, including providing resources and training to develop the LRCs as functioning working groups engaged in collaborative decision making and conflict resolution;

Assist in developing a method to measure and evaluate socio-cultural attitudes with respect to marine resources and management of these resources within identified communities;

Compile a WHFC resource background manual for educating new WHFC and LRC members;

Assist in the development of educational outreach materials and methods for LRCs and their community members;

Ensure that WHFC and LRC members have the latest information and research available on fisheries related topics; and

Assist in developing ReefWatch volunteer monitoring programs within the LRCs, including development of protocols suitable to these communities and training in monitoring techniques and data gathering.

Photo Credits
Jack's Diving Locker
Dive Makai
UH Sea Grant
Ellyn Tong