HONOLULU -- State programs to repopulate Hawaiian Waters with fish and create more artificial reefs are on the budget chopping block.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to cut $500,000 worth of programs because of a 20 percent reduction in funds by the Legislature.

Some state officials said the cut makes no sense because some of these programs receive $3 in federal matching funds for every $1 the state spends on them.

The state's Moi Stock Enhancement Program raises the fish at a Sand Island facility. Biologists then tag and release them into Hawaiian Waters for tracking and research.

Employees have been told to release thousands of fish raised in dozens of tanks there by Friday, including three species of ulua. State land officials say because of budget cuts, they are moving away from raising and stocking fish in Hawaiian Waters and instead putting more emphasis on habitat conservation.

Fisherman Robert August says that is a bad idea.

"I think they should keep on raising more fish because there's hardly any fish as it is, and the more fish the better for the ecosystem and everything else," he said.

Other fishermen, like master net maker Sal Savella, said the state is correct in ending the fish-stocking program.

"It's no purpose. They should sell them to the market. Why release it? 'Cause they're only going to release it, and illegal guys are going to catch all the baby moi like that," Savella said.

The cuts include an end to raising catfish to restock the Nuuanu Reservoir and an artificial reef program that replaces damaged reefs with fake ones across the state.

The state plans to divert funds from those projects to its harbor facilities all across the state. About 10 state employees who work on the programs being cut will be reassigned to other jobs.

State Land Director Laura Thielen released a statement saying, "We are striving to find the most efficient ways to meet our mandate to protect and enhance Hawaii's resources."

Some are wondering how efficient the state is being by cutting programs that get 3-to-1 matching funds from the federal government.