The 120 or so state officers charged with protecting and policing Hawai'i's natural resources face a daunting challenge. Their kuleana is vast — more than 750 miles of coastline (fourth longest in the U.S.) and millions of acres of ocean, land and coral reefs.

And it's only getting harder.

Growth in development and recreational and commercial use have put increased pressure on Hawai'i's delicate environment.

It's imperative that the state strengthen both its enforcement procedures and its partnerships with other agencies to enhance its efforts to protect our natural treasures.

To help focus its mission, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' enforcement arm has developed a new strategic plan. It has also begun to implement changes to allow its officers to issue civil citations and fines for violations — swift, on-the-spot enforcement that avoids cumbersome criminal-court proceedings.

This month, DLNR took its first steps by sending letters to all of the state's 700-plus commercial fishers, aimed at getting them to file required monthly catch reports or face a fine. "People are coming in and paying their penalty and filing their reports," said DLNR Director Laura Thielen. That's important: The data in those reports provide key information to help properly manage the fisheries.

But there's more work to be done. As DLNR refines its new enforcement authority, it must ensure that its violations resolution process is fair and transparent. And its administrative rules must similarly be clear, user-friendly and enforceable.

DLNR must continue to extend its reach in other ways as well. Partnerships with federal and local agencies, as well as business entities, can help DLNR focus on its core mission of protecting natural resources while handing off other policing duties to its partners.

The mission is critical: Overfishing, pollution and unchecked soil erosion have depleted near-shore fish stocks and damaged vital coral reefs.

Combatting and reversing this trend requires more than strict rules; it requires effective enforcement to back them up. And in the midst of state budget cutbacks, this will be difficult. The downturn has cost the department 13 conservation and enforcement officers.

But when the economy improves, DLNR will need legislative support to expand its efforts. Its mission is much too important to do anything less.