That's why it was imperative to help organize a diverse grass-roots advisory group of ocean users, said Robert Wintner, owner of Snorkel Bob's. The mission is to protect near-shore waters and marine life with a "bottom up" approach to public debate, legislation, research and lobbying, he said.

Newly minted members of the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council held a press conference Wednesday morning at Kalepolepo Park to announce their formation in coordination with Maui County and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The community organization, which is chaired by native Hawaiian cultural advocate Ed Lindsey, claims the spectrum of aquatic perspectives among its 25 charter members, including fishermen, tourism representatives, marine scientists and water quality experts.

Maui Nui council members have scheduled an initial public meeting for Oct. 17 at 4:30 p.m. in the Alu Like Building on Kaohu Street in Wailuku.

Lindsey said that population increases, overfishing, irresponsible land development and cultural differences have depleted fish populations, destroyed reefs and literally muddied the waters.

He said Hawaii residents used to be able to catch sea turtles for food until the 1960s; and then restaurants put them on the menus. Most species of sea turtles are now listed as endangered or threatened – and protected from hunting.

"We have a responsibility to take care of our ocean resources because that's our refrigerator," Lindsey said. "When money rules, we lose our resources."

The Maui Nui council has no official status with the government. But Dan Polhemus, administrator for the state Division of Aquatic Resources, encouraged creation of the Maui Nui council.

He said the "top-down" approach of the past has involved a lengthy statewide public hearing process when the changes to rules affecting marine resources could be better conducted locally.

With the gill net ban, a series of hearings were held repeatedly over more than five years, with the affected public on different islands taking different positions. On Maui, there is a total ban on use of gill nets, while nets can be used on Kauai, Molokai and Lanai, and most of Oahu and the Big Island.

"I want this to work," Polhemus said in a statement issued by Maui Nui council. "We strongly support community-based management and will consider these recommendations in formulating policy."

Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares was also supportive of the council.

"We want to eliminate the animosity often involved whenever a controversial decision is made," Wintner said. "We want to help get the arguments out of the way."

The Maui Nui council is similar to the West Hawaii Fisheries Council and its members said they intend forge partnerships with any and all other grassroots environmental organizations on the different islands.

Wintner said they are not a formal watchdog group but some of their initial issues will likely include calling for bag limits on some game fish and investigating sources of construction runoff and illegal dumping.

Here's what the Maui Nui council has in its charter, so far: