KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — The Achilles Tang (pāku‘iku‘i) is a surgeonfish that is known for its bright orange patch at the base of its tail. It enjoys grazing on seaweed that grows on the reef, keeping algae in check and making it an important fish in the coral reef ecosystem. 

However, it is a highly sought after fish in the aquarium trade and harvested by subsistence fishers in Hawaii. 

The Achilles Tang population is “dangerously depleted” in the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area on Hawaii Island, according to a news release.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources approved rules on Dec. 9 that prohibit the taking of the Achilles Tang in the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area. 

This is the first time the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has used the new adaptation management authority, which allows the Department to make rules based on rapidly changing situations. In this case, the population of the Achilles Tang was experiencing a “rapid decline,” according to BLNR.   

The new rules began on Dec. 19, 2022. They will be in effect for two years unless they are extended for a third year by the BLNR and Hawaii State Legislature.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.