Two O'ahu fishing clubs accuse Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council executive Kitty Simonds of inappropriately trying to keep commercial fishing within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument, but a council member said Simonds is simply giving voice to the panel's policy on the issue and doing nothing wrong.

The O'ahu Game Fish Club and Wai'anae Fishing Club, which in 2005 accused Wespac of improperly trying to undermine the protection of the waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, added to their allegations last month, asking that the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Commerce investigate whether Simonds and the council "are in line with the law and federal standards of conduct" in their efforts to keep fishing permitted within the monument.

Wespac council member Ed Ebisui, speaking for Simonds and the council, said that it is the council's official position that commercial bottomfishing and the marine monument can co-exist.

President Bush on June 15, 2006, established the marine monument, protecting the waters around the 10 major islands, atolls and reefs to the northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands. The presidential declaration permitted existing commercial bottomfishing to continue for five years, after which all commercial fishing would be prohibited.

Wespac's position has always been clear, Ebisui said.

"The council's position is that bottomfishing is perfectly consistent with both the sanctuary and the monument. It is the official council position that fishing ought to continue up there," he said.

Ebisui, an attorney, said there is nothing wrong with the council taking that position, or with Simonds voicing support for the council's actions. He said the council and Simonds process their positions appropriately through the U.S. Commerce Department and respond to inquiries, but do not engage in lobbying.

In documents submitted to the Commerce Department's inspector general, the fishing clubs argue that the council's pro-fishing positions on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands create unrealistic expectations on the part of commercial fishing interests and also undercut public confidence in the fishery management council itself.

Another group, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Network, has expressed support for the fishing clubs' position. The network consists of six nonprofit groups with wildlife and ocean conservation interests.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.