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HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on a meeting between federal officials and fishing boat owners to discuss conditions among the Hawaii longline fleet (all times local):
8:30 a.m.
Federal and state officials are meeting with vessel owners from Hawaii's longline commercial fishing fleet in Honolulu.
The regular quarterly meeting between the groups is offering the opportunity for owners to ask questions and discuss an Associated Press investigation which found that some foreign fishermen have been confined to vessels for years. The workers have to stay on the boats because they are not legally allowed to enter the United States.
A federal loophole allows the foreign men to work, but it exempts them from most basic labor protections.
On Wednesday, Hawaii lawmakers held a public meeting to discuss the issue. The Hawaii Longline Association, which represents fishing boat owners, created a universal crew contract that will be required on any boat wanting to sell fish in the state's seafood auction.
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