A Honolulu man has been sentenced to probation and home detention for selling Hawaiian tropical fish that were caught illegally. Shane Takasane, 43, received a three-year probation sentence from U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park after pleading guilty to violating the Lacey Act by selling Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang without the required commercial fishing license.
Takasane’s sentence includes 45 days of home confinement, 50 hours of community service with an organization focused on marine environment improvement, and restitution payments totaling $10,100 to the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources.
According to court documents, Takasane admitted that between June and August 2023 he arranged with divers to obtain Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang which he then sold to a buyer on the U.S. Mainland without proper licensing. He also acknowledged importing snakehead fish—classified as injurious to domestic wildlife—and Asian arowanas, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act, on several occasions between July 2023 and June 2024.
United States Attorney Ken Sorenson commented: “The protection of Hawaii’s wildlife is a critical component in preserving the unique and beautiful marine environment that draws so many to our islands. We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FBI, and other agencies to aggressively investigate, arrest, and convict those who seek to profit by violating the laws and regulations that safeguard Hawaii’s precious ocean wildlife.”
Douglas Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement added: “The illegal trade of native Hawaiian marine species threatens fragile coral reef ecosystems, while the smuggling of injurious species poses serious risks to our nation’s wildlife and habitats. We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their strong partnership in enforcing the laws that protect our nation’s most vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems.”
The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted.