KAILUA-KONA, – A longline fishing vessel has been seized by officers from the DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) Hawai’i Branch Marine Unit after an investigation into alleged illegal fishing activities within Hawai’i state waters.
The seizure occurred yesterday morning, May 7, 2025, approximately seven miles off the Kona coast. DOCARE officers boarded the vessel, identified as the “Wai’aka,” after observing it with approximately four miles of fishing line deployed.
Hawai’i law prohibits longline fishing within the state’s Territorial Sea, a 3,069 square mile area extending 12 nautical miles from the high-water mark of all islands. Authorities had received multiple complaints regarding longline fishing in this protected zone, prompting the increased surveillance.
The vessel’s captain, identified as 52-year-old Konane Zager of Kona, was cited for violating HRS Section 189-2.5, relating to the Long Line Fishing Prohibition. This violation carries a criminal penalty of a petty misdemeanor.
During the boarding, officers discovered three ahi tuna on board. One live ahi was released back into the ocean. The remaining two ahi weighed 95 pounds and 103 pounds, with an estimated total market value of $1251. The seized fish are being held as evidence.
Zager is scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on June 19, 2025.