President Bush's establishment yesterday of a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument — a conservation zone bigger than most states — did not end squabbling over the most intractable management issue for the region: fishing.

Bush, in a White House ceremony attended by state officials, representatives of conservation groups and government agencies, appeared clear in his commitment to establishing a preserve that creates strong protections for marine life and other resources in the islands. It would be a pure refuge where corals, fishes, lobsters, seaweeds and other forms of marine life could thrive.

The refuge will span 140,000 square miles over the atolls, reefs and land masses of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The designation makes it the largest protected area in the United States and the world's largest marine preserve.

But there are provisions allowing fishing of various kinds: commercial fishing for up to 350,000 pounds annually of bottomfish for a maximum of five more years; commercial fishing for up to 180,000 pounds annually of open ocean fish for up to five years; fishing by Native Hawaiians conducting cultural practices with permits; and sustenance fishing by others who are in the region with the permission of the monument's managers.

Bush limited subsistence fishing by Native Hawaiians and others specifically to marine life that would be consumed while in the monument. None could be brought home.

Native Hawaiians generally applauded the establishment of the preserve, but suggested they have significant differences in their beliefs of how sustenance fishing should be managed. Some feel the proclamation language is too restrictive.

"The access rights we're talking about is to feed our family," activist Walter Ritte of Moloka'i said. "On the one hand, it's like a natural hatchery up there so we get more food down here, but they should have the option for Hawaiians to collect from the sea. They need to recognize our rights."

LIMITS ON FISHING

The proclamation establishing the national monument included this language involving Native Hawaiian uses:

"Native Hawaiian Practices means cultural activities conducted for the purposes of perpetuating traditional knowledge, caring for and protecting the environment, and strengthening cultural and spiritual connections to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that have demonstrable benefits to the Native Hawaiian community. This may include, but is not limited to, the non-commercial use of monument resources for direct personal consumption while in the monument."

There is a tradition of Hawaiians sharing what they had in abundance. On Moloka'i, people of the taro-rich areas of the north shore would come to the fish-rich areas of West Moloka'i for marine life, Ritte said. The natural wealth of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, while it should be protected, also should be available as a subsistence resource to the state's native people, he said.

Maui cultural expert and kahu Charles Maxwell had similar thoughts.

"It should be limited to Hawaiian fishing for home consumption, including turtles and everything that was caught before. No commercialism, but food to eat there, and to bring back. The way it used to be — enough to eat right then, and the next day, and to dry, but not for the whole month," Maxwell said.

But other Hawaiians said they support the concept of the refuge, and agree with the monument's proposed limits, or at least the idea of limits.

State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kahuku, Kane'ohe) said the monument plays the same role today that the Hawaiian fishing restriction concept of kapu.

"The idea that Bush is an agent for this recognition of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a natural resource is terrific," Hee said.

"We need to recognize that gathering rights are a part of the state's legal system. But the kapu system was a management tool for sustaining our resources. The monument is a haolefied version of a kapu system."

STRICT CONSERVATION

Kaleikoa Ka'eo, an instructor of Hawaiian studies at Maui Community College, said he backs strict conservation.

"I support the protection of the resources. I believe in subsistence. I lean toward, what you catch up there should be eaten up there. We need to err on the side of caution. If you open up that door of filling coolers to bring home, it encourages taking more than you need," he said.

Cha Smith, the non-Hawaiian executive director of Kahea, a Hawaiian-environmental alliance, said Native Hawaiian rights to access in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are adequately protected under the president's monument plan.

"Native Hawaiians can subsistence-fish for consumption while up there," Smith said. "I think that isn't going to have a significant impact. Hawaiians don't play with their food; they don't recreationally fish."

'ON THE SAME PAGE'

The Bush proclamation calls on the U.S. secretaries of Commerce and Interior to work together with the state to manage the national monument, and with respect to fishing, to issue specific permits for sustenance fishing, which it describes as "fishing for bottomfish or pelagic species that are consumed within the monument, and is incidental to an activity permitted under this proclamation."

Such fishing would be permitted in limited areas within the monument where the managers feel it is compatible with the purposes of the monument. To keep track of how much of an impact such taking involves, the managers of the monument will be required to establish rules for the reporting of anything caught.

The designation of a national monument continues a conservation effort that started in 1909 with President Theodore Roosevelt. On learning of the damage to nesting seabird colonies by hunters, Roosevelt established a U.S. reserve that evolved into part of the national wildlife refuge system, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"His executive order was the first of many presidential efforts to protect the life and waters of Northwestern Hawaiian Islands," Bush said yesterday.

Bush's own move is welcome, said Barry Stieglitz, project leader of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

"What President Roosevelt started almost 100 years ago, President Bush greatly expanded today," Stieglitz said.

He said the joint management by the federal departments of Commerce and Interior and the state should not be a difficult matter, in part because the agencies have already been working together.

"We're all pretty much on the same page," he said.

Federal officials had planned a series of public meetings this summer on plans to manage the then-proposed national marine sanctuary for the region. While the sanctuary plan has been supplanted by the national monument, Bush said the public still will have an opportunity to address how the refuge is run.

"The Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce will work with the state of Hawai'i and the public to develop a plan to manage the monument," he said.

Details of that plan are still under development, but in rushed hours around Bush's announcement, someone did some math: His proclamation calculates the reserve size at 139,793 square miles.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Federal and state politicians, fishing industry representatives, environmentalists and residents commented yesterday on the new designation for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Here are some of their statements:

"I applaud President Bush for his recognition of the incalculable value of the ocean and coral reef ecosystems in our Hawaiian archipelago."

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i

"For years, Senator Inouye and I have worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and community groups to ensure proper stewardship of this tremendous island chain. It is my hope that the administration will continue these relationships to properly incorporate the cultural traditions that are of great importance to Native Hawaiians and careful traditions of fishermen."

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i

"It's important that we not sit back and think this is
the end of the story. There's still a lot of work to be done before the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have protection fully in place. I remain committed to building on today's progress until we achieve that goal."

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawa'i

"... a spectacular action, which justly earns the distinction of the most significant single action in marine resource protection in our country's history. ... It is time to give thanks that something so right to do was done right."

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i

"This seamless partnership between the state and federal government, environmental conservationists, and Native Hawaiian organizations will preserve this special chain of atolls and reefs as a natural and cultural legacy. Together, we are proud to continue our commitment to preserve Hawai'i's natural resources for future generations."

Gov. Linda Lingle

"Greenpeace welcomes the designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a national monument. These added protections for the NWHI are an important step, but we have a long way to go to avert the crisis facing our oceans. The best science available shows that we may need to set aside as much as 40 percent of marine ecosystems as reserves, protected from fishing."

John Passacantando, executive director, Greenpeace USA

"I wonder why anyone thinks it's a good idea to transfer a large part of Hawai'i to the federal government."

Jim Cook, fishing boat owner; former member and chairman, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

"Why should we care about protecting a long chain of islands and atolls that reach 1,200 miles from Honolulu into the vast northern Pacific Ocean? This near pristine environment, teaming with indigenous and endangered species and extraordinary habitats, is under siege from marine debris, ravenous commercial fishing interests and the effects of human irresponsibility. It is a fragile ecosystem that is as beautiful as a porcelain figurine and as easily broken."

Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society

"We're disappointed that we can't continue our small, healthy bottomfish fishery."

Kitty Simonds, executive director, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council

"I think it's a wonderful thing."

Paul Petrich, of Santa Barbara, Calif., a volunteer with California's Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary

"Despite all the efforts, the Hawaiian monk seal is in trouble. Maybe this will help them. ... Will Midway be open for visitors? I'm hoping people will be able to see what's being saved."

Tom Huff , Manoa resident

"I attended the ceremony. The tone of the announcement was really extraordinary, and it was all about protection. Now, we need to see it in writing."

Stephanie Fried, senior scientist, Environmental Defense