Bill Text: HI SR57 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibition on the Collection of Ornamental Fish; Coral Reefs; Study

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-17 - (S) Referred to WLH. [SR57 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-SR57-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	57
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting a study on prohibiting the collection of Hawaii's endemic marine ornamental fish for commercial purposes.

 

 

WHEREAS, ornamental fish are fish that are kept in aquariums and prized for their beauty and rarity; and

 

WHEREAS, recent studies have shown that Hawaii's coral reefs and ornamental fisheries are under severe stress from ocean acidification, non-point source pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and the ornamental fish aquarium trade; and

 

     WHEREAS, there are one hundred three species of fish that are collected in Hawaii, and forty-five per cent of the top twenty collected species are endemic to Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, ornamental fish collectors capture large amounts of targeted fish species, which results in their exploitation; and

 

     WHEREAS, more than fifty per cent of ornamental fish species die within a week of being in captivity; and

 

WHEREAS, according to a recent study of the aquarium trade, there has been a significant decline in ornamental fish biomass in areas where the aquarium collection trade is not regulated as compared to areas where it is regulated; and

 

WHEREAS, for instance, in unregulated areas there has been a fifty-eight per cent decline in the achilles' tang, a fifty-four per cent decline in the longnose butterflyfish, a forty-seven per cent decline in the yellow tang, and a forty-six per cent decline in the moorish idol; and

 

     WHEREAS, fish-collecting practices associated with the aquarium collection trade have damaged coral reefs in the following ways:

 

     (1)  Nets entangle the reef and branching corals are damaged when aquarium collectors set and retrieve their nets;

 

     (2)  Coral is broken as collectors grab fish or pound the coral with sticks to flush fish out of hiding; and

 

     (3)  Kneeling on the coral causes the coral to become prone to disease; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies show that eighty per cent of collected fish are herbivores, such as the yellow tang, that feed on algae, and over collecting such fish decimates their populations, which directly increases algae overgrowth, a main contributor of coral degradation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the decrease of fish biomass threatens the survival of marine species and coral reefs because high biodiversity is necessary for coral reef health and other species stability; and

 

     WHEREAS, news reports indicate that the number of reef fish in Hawaii has declined by sixty per cent in the past twenty years; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's tourism industry is dependent on the health of Hawaii's aquatic ecosystem, with roughly thirty-five per cent of Hawaii's jobs related to the visitor industry and reef tourism generating $1,000,000,000 annually for the State's economy; and

 

WHEREAS, in contrast, aquarium collectors contribute $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 annually to Hawaii's economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the commercial aquarium fish trade violates the traditional Hawaiian value, "Malama aina," which discourages destructive fishing practices such as overfishing and waste, and instead supports sustainability and the protection of fish species so that the species thrive and the ecosystem is balanced; and

 

     WHEREAS, the loss of Hawaii's beautiful coral reefs and endemic fish species poses a significant threat to the public welfare and without intervention could deprive future generations of Hawaii residents of having the opportunity to learn about and enjoy Hawaii's ocean environment; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to study the efficacy of prohibiting the collection of Hawaii's endemic marine ornamental fish for commercial purposes, with the exception of permits sought for propagation or educational, medical, or scientific purposes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Prohibition on the Collection of Ornamental Fish; Coral Reefs; Study