Alu Like Offers Fishery Observer Course

Alu Like will discuss maritime stewardship from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 29) at Kahuku Library and Feb. 8 at Waimanalo Library, where residents can learn about the nonprofit’s federally funded Native Fishery Observer (NFO) program.

The intensive three-week observer course, to be held later this spring in Honolulu, trains adults (age 21 and older) to become paid observers on longline fishing boats. They learn how to record data on the boat trips, crews, hooks, fish caught, etc. and also collect specimens. No enforcement is involved.

According to Ambyr Mokiao-Lee, coordinator of the Alu Like program, the free NFO training can help students qualify to take the federal certification course, which normally requires a college degree. Those with a desire to help sustain Hawaii’s ocean fish-eries are invited to attend either library briefing and learn the details about the work and training involved.

For the NFO course, students should have a high school diploma or equivalent, and Native Hawaiians and Alaskans, Pacific Islanders and American Indians are especially encourage to apply.

For more information, call Ambyr Mokiao-Lee at 535-6735.