Ancient Hawaiians knew intuitively it made sense to limit times and places for fishing. This kapu system guaranteed fish would have time to breed and grow.

Modern fishers know this as well. But the pressure from commercial and recreational fishing has made it difficult to adopt this sensible theory in practice.

In response, government authorities have imposed a variety of no-fishing, or limited-fishing areas in an effort to help depleted stocks renew themselves. This has been a controversial approach, often opposed by those who have traditionally fished freely in the area.

But the value of creating these marine reserves is becoming increasingly clear. The latest evidence, as reported by science writer Jan TenBruggencate, has to do with a marine reserve around the island of Kaho'olawe.

According to a University of Hawai'i study, the reserve has produced a substantial increase in the numbers and size of bottomfish in the area, including the prized 'opakapaka. And most interestingly, the evidence suggests that once the fish stock is renewed in the reserve area, the animals spread out into surrounding waters where they can be harvested.

This makes the point that a marine reserve is not just for the fish; it is for anyone who values the stock and hopes to be able to catch and eat it for a long time to come.

The latest UH research project simply makes it more clear that an aggressive system of marine preserves — around all islands in the chain — makes good sense environmentally, scientifically and economically.

The old Hawaiians would have approved.