Although concrete records of Hawai'i fish stocks over time are a bit spotty, anecdotal evidence provided by the experts — fishermen and marine biologists — underscores that Hawai'i's nearshore fisheries are in decline.

So while most agree there's a problem, there's a sharp divide over its cause, and the solution. Many fishermen testified on proposals to restrict lay gill nets: Habitat destruction and pollution, not the nets, are the principal factors.

But in an environment plagued by problems on multiple fronts, it's logical to make every incremental improvement that's within reach. And the state's proposal to severely restrict this fishing method, in which fish are caught indiscriminately and often wastefully, is a rational first step.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources would ban the use of the nets in some areas and curtailing the hours of their use in others. This would help establish baseline fish counts and allow for a comparison with the population after the ban has been in effect for a reasonable amount of time. Experience elsewhere suggests there will be a rebound of fish stocks.

With any luck, the trial run of a new, more restrictive policy will have beneficial results: measured recovery of our nearshore fisheries.

Then the state could decide whether a total ban or extended limitation on the use of these nets makes sense. Outright bans have proven beneficial to fisheries in Fiji and elsewhere, which the state should find encouraging.

A lay gill net is a mesh of nylon monofilament fishing line that is anchored to the bottom with weights and suspended with floats. The net traps fish by the gills, which usually kills them, even if the fisherman pulls them free.

The proposed rules do not target throw nets or even more active uses of the lay gill net (a method known as "pa'i pa'i," in which the water is slapped to drive fish into the net). The more problematic practice is leaving the nets overnight, or extending linked nets for thousands of feet. By the time they are retrieved, many more fish have been snared than are needed.

Some opponents cite Native Hawaiian gathering rights, which should be respected. However, this method is not a traditional one. What is part of Hawaiian tradition is the notion of sustainability, not endangering the fish stock.

Beyond the lay gill net proposal, the state must develop comprehensive management strategies to restoring fisheries. Future generations in the fishing trade depend on such foresight and planning.