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President’s Diversity Directives: Benefits Hawaii Fishermen
Along with the pandemic and elections, the year 2020 will be known as a time in American history for its active focus on the need for fairer treatment of all by the nation’s laws. On his first day in office, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. signed an Executive Order (EO) that promised to “advanc[e] equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” Since January 2021, President Biden has announced two more EOs to reinforce this important cause. Additionally, the Biden administration includes women and racial minorities in positions historically held by white men.
As diversity of federal leadership progresses, hope increases that the Hawai‘i’s fishing community may benefit. More than 75 percent of the region’s population identifies as Indigenous, Asian American, Pacific Islander or other persons of color, representing groups that fall under the EO’s definition of underserved communities that have historically been denied equitable treatment.
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The administration is looking to change funding and contract procedures, including our representation in senior roles of government, strengthen our economic security, address our concentration of poverty and reduce inequities in education.
At its June 2021 meeting, the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council (the Council) heard a review on the EOs on advancing racial equality and underserved communities, as it applied to its fishery ecosystem programs and plans. The message focused on addressing funding, communication and cultural issues.
It highlighted the need for better investments to collect better data which drives better fisheries management and could avoid unnecessary fishery closures. The Council agreed to inform the Biden administration of barriers to providing equity, justice and opportunity to those of us in the Western Pacific Region.
Existing programs and mechanisms that, if used and/or funded, are available to provide a more equitable landscape for Pacific Islanders. One example of an unfunded mandate is the Community Demonstration Project Program, congressionally authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to “foster and promote traditional indigenous fishing practices.” This program supported the He‘eia Kea Restoration and Revitalization, Moloka‘i Aku Boat Training and ‘Ewa Beach Limu projects. Another noteworthy program is the Council’s Community Development Plan, which has allocated 20 percent of the Mau Zone bottomfish permits to Native Hawaiians.
The Biden administration is making a commitment to serve our communities. Let them know about your issues and propose meeting with the administration’s points of contact for these initiatives.
The Moloka‘i Aku Boat Training community demonstration project trained seven young people to fish for skipjack tuna using a traditional pole-and-line method from a small boat. Participants also learned about navigation, species identification, GPS plotting, observational training, marine safety, boat maintenance, and gear construction and maintenance.
