To: The Hawaii State House, The Hawaii State Senate, and Governor David Ige
State of Hawaii: Stop Fish Collection Trade for Aquariums
End the practice of aquarium fish collection in Hawaii. There are no legal limits to the number of collectors or the number of fish they can take, and these numbers increase every year through bad stewardship. Our reefs are being denuded and it is past time to let the fish populations recover.
Why is this important?
"A proposed bill in Hawaii has ignited renewed discussion about the impact of the state's largest aquarium fishery, which catches hundreds of thousands of gem-like saltwater fish each year for shipment to collectors around the world. Supporters say the industry is sustainable and regulated. But environmental activists say the practice is destructive and depletes populations of popular fish species." - Mike Taibbi, Public Broadcasting Service, Feb. 14, 2015. I have been snorkeling on the Kona Coast since 1966, spending 8 to 10 weeks a year there. I am shocked by the drop-off in numbers of fish I have seen since 2005. Several years ago 800 dead yellow tangs were found in a dumpster in Honokohau harbor, apparently left there by a collector who had developed a hole in his boat tank. Which begs the question, what was he doing with 800 yellow tang in the first place? It's high time to stop this destruction of the reef. Join me in asking the State of Hawaii to stop it for good.