The case for aggressive management of our fisheries resources is growing steadily stronger. Pressure was applied most recently in a study, published in the journal Science, pointing to cataclysmic declines that would deplete fishing stocks worldwide by 2048.

Without intervention, according to the study, all fished species counts will fall so steeply that populations will never recover. The stunning prediction is being dismissed in some quarters as extreme. The National Fisheries Institute, a U.S. fishing industry group, cites federal data indicating four-fifths of the fishery stocks are sustainable.

But this is only the latest piece of discouraging news. Some of the same scientists a year earlier identified Hawaiian waters among the world's "hot spots" of marine life; all of these spots show a reduction in fish numbers and varieties. The wisest policy would be one that takes these warning signs seriously.

Scientists say the trend is reversible with prompt action. Viewed in that light, Hawai'i officials are taking steps toward rational management around the main islands that promise to place Hawai'i ahead of the curve. That effort needs full public support.

The most talked-about component of the state's management strategy is the work to conserve the stocks of bottomfish such as 'opakapaka and onaga through a refined network of restricted fishing areas. This plan was aired at public hearings and could be approved in a few months.

Aided by habitat surveys, the state has revised its roster of restricted areas to avoid outright fishing bans in less critical areas.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources also sees corollary efforts as key to fishery protection. These include: policies to regulate coastal development and runoff; a push to bar lay gill nets that harvest species indiscriminately; marine debris cleanups; and battles against invasive species that destroy habitats.

The recent scientific news, as well as recent occurrences such as the death of a Hawaiian monk seal in a lay gill net, serve to underscore the importance of the entire range of initiatives in keeping fisheries a vital part of Hawai'i culture. It's nearly impossible to envision life without them.