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U.S. NEWSThursday 11 February 2016

Amid boom in catch, debate rages over lobster license rules

Associated Press panel held a public hearing sulting in heavy supply. rent system isn’t fair. creation of a new class of li-
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — on Wednesday on chang- A vote could come as early “I wake up every morning cense that would be limited
Members of the next gen- es designed to streamline as Feb. 17. There are nearly and I look at my late fa- to 300 traps instead of the
eration of Maine lobster the process of obtaining 300 people on the wait- ther’s trap pile in the yard,” usual 800. Another piece of
fishermen say they fear one of about 5,800 lobster- ing list for a license, and DeBery said. “If you’re not the proposal would require
they will never get a license ing licenses in the state. The some have been on the list going to get off the list until the state’s lobster fishing
to fish for the valuable crit- call for changes comes as for more than a decade. you’re 50, there’s no point zones to grant new licenses
ters, but some longstand- Maine lobsters have grown Ethan DeBery, a Phipps- in even getting a boat. based on the number of re-
ing lobstermen fear chang- in value in recent years, and burg lobsterman who com- That’s not real entry.” tired licenses instead of the
ing the rules could result in prices have held steady for pleted an apprenticeship Rep. Walter Kumiega, D- number of retired traps. The
overfishing. consumers as lobstermen’s and has been on the list for Deer Isle, has proposed the zones currently use a mix of
A key Maine legislative catches have boomed, re- seven years, said the cur- changes, which include the those two methods.q

Hawaii’s big wave surf competition called off by officials

A surfer catches a wave at Waimea Bay after the Memory of Eddie Aikau surfing contest was possible to come by any- about honoring his broth-
canceled, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Haleiwa, Hawaii. The competition was called off early where near the beach. er’s legacy. He also added
Wednesday when the 40-foot swells predicted failed to materialize, event spokeswoman Jodi The Quiksilver In Memory of that this will be his last year
Wilmott said. Eddie Aikau competition competing in the Eddie.
began in 1984, six years As a lifeguard, Eddie Aikau
(AP Photo/Marco Garcia) after Aikau died trying to is said to have never had
save others. It has only a fatality while on duty.
CALEB JONES memory of Aikau, a Native quirements for 40-foot-high been held eight times. When the surf was too big
Associated Press Hawaiian surfer famous for swells that last for hours. But Some of the best big-wave for most in Waimea Bay
HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) — riding monster waves and the towering breakers were surfers in the world were at and the crowds cleared
Legendary surfer Eddie saving hundreds of lives as a no-show, and as the sun Waimea Bay to compete out, Aikau would grab his
Aikau would have gone Waimea Bay’s first official came up over throngs of in the event, including Ed- surfboard and take on the
out. But Wednesday’s surf lifeguard. spectators and dozens of die’s brother Clyde Aikau, biggest waves around.
in Hawaii didn’t stack up The event was last held in elite surfers, ‘The Eddie’ who is the oldest competi- Event spokeswoman and
to his namesake competi- 2009, when waves built to was called off. tor at 66 years old and the longtime Aikau family
tion’s big-wave standards competition size for long The narrow road that only person to compete in friend Jodi Wilmott told The
and the event was called enough for the surfers to snakes along Oahu’s North all eight events. Associated Press on Tues-
off hours before it was sup- run their heats. Shore was backed up with “Is Uncle Clyde ready to day that the surfers invited
posed to happen. Conditions Wednesday on traffic early in the day as ride? Absolutely,” Aikau to the event “absolutely
“Eddie would go” is the the North Shore of Oahu fans rode bikes or walked told The Associated Press understand the prestige of
mantra of the Quiksil- had been forecast to meet for miles to reach the ven- after he posed for photos being invited,” but that the
ver surfing competition in the competition’s strict re- ue. Parking was nearly im- with excited fans. competition is more about
He said he and his brother the aloha spirit that Eddie
used to ride Waimea Bay lived his life with.
because of their passion for “He really did share aloha
the sport. wherever he went,” Wilmo-
“It was just that love to tt said. He was a guardian
ride, you know, the biggest of the bay and any other
wave in the world, and to body of water he visited,
ride it with friends that you Wilmott said, and fittingly
really love and you really so as he was a direct de-
have a lot of confidence scendant of a Hawaiian
in that if you get in trouble, high priest named Hewa-
they’ll help you out,” he hewa, who was given the
said. task of watching over the
He said the event isn’t Waimea Valley long before
about fame or money, it’s Aikau arrived. q

A tax on tampons? Some US states debate the proposal

HALLIE GOLDEN with at least five U.S. states said. Last year, Canada re- She hopes that by mak-
Associated Press getting rid of taxes on such Pennsylvania and Min- moved taxes on feminine ing her plan broader, it will
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — An products. nesota are among states hygiene products after re- earn more support.
international debate over Most states don’t tax pre- that have eliminated these ceiving unanimous political The proposal could save
whether to tax tampons scription drugs or food, taxes. A handful of other support. Britain set the tax residents who use these
and other feminine hygiene according to the National states, including California, on sanitary products at 5 products at least $30 each
products has made its way Conference of State Legis- have seen similar proposals percent, the lowest possi- year in taxes, Duckworth
to some U.S. states like con- latures. brought before their legisla- ble level, and leaders have said.
servative Utah, where a bill Feminine hygiene products tures this year. considered doing away But estimates from Utah’s
is set to be heard by a com- should be considered ne- President Barack Obama with it. legislative budget staff say
mittee made of only men. cessities, not luxuries, said said in an interview with In Utah, state Rep. Susan removing the sales tax on
Such taxes penalize wom- Stephanie Pitcher with the a YouTube blogger last Duckworth’s proposal also the products would reduce
en for their biology, some Utah Women’s Coalition. month that he had no calls for making adult in- revenue to the general
critics say. That perspective “Having a period is not a idea why feminine hygiene continence products and fund by over $1 million next
has picked up momentum, choice for women,” she products were taxed. children’s diapers tax-free. year. q