Ocean poachers and others who violate state environmental protection laws and rules may face prosecution under a new state program.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the attorney general's office, the Hawai'i Coral Reef Initiative and the University of Hawai'i's Environmental Law Program are creating a one-year law fellowship to focus on prosecuting violators of state laws that protect marine resources.

The program will allow the law fellow to work directly with the DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources. The lawyer will be supervised by the attorney general's staff, and the position will be funded by the Coral Reef Initiative.

Blaine Rogers, who received his law degree in May and his Certificate in Environmental Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, will be the first DLNR law fellow. He started work in the new position on Oct. 16.

"I am delighted that, right out of law school, I can help protect Hawai'i's fragile marine environment by assisting in bringing the most flagrant violators to justice," Rogers said. "By working closely with the experienced staff of DLNR, I hope to ensure that their hard work in conserving our natural resources is not undone by those who dare to break the law."

DLNR Chairman Peter Young said the fellowship will boost the department's capacity to prosecute violators of Hawai'i's environmental laws by having the lawyer work side-by-side with the department staff.

"We hope that these cases — whether it's illegal fish poaching or stealing precious coral — will send a message: Violators will be prosecuted," Young said.

The Hawai'i Coral Reef Initiative was established in 1998 with federal money to support scientific research and monitoring to protect Hawai'i's coral ecosystems. HCRI projects seek to enhance research, monitoring, education, management and regulatory programs in Hawai'i.

For more information about HCRI, visit www.hcri.hawaii.edu.