Thursday morning, state law enforcement officials arrested Jason Beevers of Na’alehu for allegedly breaking 16 laws relative to aquarium fish collecting.

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 fisher’s 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 47-year-old Jason Beevers was arrested for the following alleged violations:

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

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

Photo courtesy DLNR.