(BIVN) – A Naʻalehu man faces 16 charges in connection with the alleged illegal take of hundreds of aquarium fish off South Point. According to the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources:

Thursday morning a DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officer, on patrol, spotted a vessel in the West Hawai‘i Regional Fisheries Management Area (FMA), off South Point. The DOCARE officer maintained surveillance on the boat during the day and then a team of officers boarded it, as they suspected aquatic resources violations

Officers inspected the boat and the fishers catch at the South Point Boat Ramp. They found 333 Yellow Tang and three (3) Paku‘iku‘i (Achilles tang); common species of aquarium fish. The DOCARE inspection also revealed numerous violations of Hawai‘i Administrative Rules relating to fishing gear and permit requirements relating to the FMA.

The Hawaiʻi DLNR says the vessel’s operator, 47-year-old Jason Beevers of Nāʻālehu, was arrested for the following violations:

• Activities Prohibited within selected areas (collecting aquatic life), 13-60.4-5(B)(1)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA, 13-60.4-4(3)(B)
• Aquarium collecting permit and vessel registration required, 13-60.4-7(C)(1)
• Aquarium collecting permit and vessel registration required (failure to display “AQ”), 13-60.4-7(C)(2)
• Aquarium collecting permit and vessel registration required (failure to fly stiffened “A” flag), 13-60.4-7(C)(3)
• Aquarium collecting permit and vessel registration required (failure to display a dive flag), 13-60.4-7(C)(4)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA (possess AQ gear), 13-60.4-4(3)(A)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA (possess unmarked AQ gear), 13-60.4-4(4)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA (possess AQ gear), 13-60.4-5(B)(2)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA (possess SCUBA gear), 13-60.4-4(6)
• Lay Nets (less than 2 ¾ inches stretched mesh), 13-75-12.4(a)(2)(B) Note: White nylon (2”)
• Lay Nets (less than 2 ¾ inches stretched mesh), 13-75-12.4(a)(2)(B) Note: Maroon in color (1”)
• Lay Nets (Net not registered), 13-75-12.4(a)(1) Note: White nylon
• Lay Nets (Net not registered), 13-75-12.4(a)(1) Note: Maroon in color
  Aquarium Vessel Registration requirements, 13-60.4-7(C)(1)
• Activities Prohibited within the WHRFMA (possess/engage lay net), 13-60.4-4(5) 

DLNR says Beevers was booked and released on his own recognizance. The State says he will be required to appear on the charges, which are petty misdemeanors, and could face fines, imprisonment, and administrative penalties. All the fishing gear connected to the violations were seized as evidence, DLNR says.

“We appreciate the hard work of the team of officers who were involved in this case” said DOCARE Enforcement Chief Jason Redulla. “While our officers continue to provide for everyone’s safety during the current COVID-19 crisis, we continue to be on the lookout for natural resource violations” Redulla added.