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P! =WEL <br /> Cl-94. 101 <br /> Murashige, Laura <br /> From: Douglas McCauley <douglas.mccauley@ucsb.edu> <br /> Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 10:07 AM <br /> To: Council Testimony <br /> Cc: Kanuha, Dru; Chung, Aaron; David, Maile; Eoff, Karen; Lee Loy, Sue; Ohara, Eileen; <br /> Ruggles,Jennifer; Richards,Tim; Poindexter,Valerie; COH Mayor;Toguchi, Marcie <br /> Subject: Bill 13 Written Testimony <br /> Attachments: Kona_Bill 13_McCauley_Testimony.pdf COUNTY CLERK <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAI'I <br /> RECEIVED <br /> Vinl <br /> Dear Council Members, Timed /0:Z By <br /> Date 7 /r7 <br /> Thank you for your willingness to review my testimony. I am a Professor of Marine Biology at UC <br /> Santa Barbara. I have been studying ocean ecosystems for over 15 years, largely in the Pacific, <br /> including in areas around Hawai'i. I am writing in strong support of Bill 13, the bill to ban polystyrene <br /> food containers in Hawai'i County. Plastic pollution, including EPS, is entering the oceans at an <br /> alarming rate and affecting ocean health. I have had the unfortunate ability to observe this occur in <br /> the sites where I conduct my research. I draw your attention to three important points regarding the <br /> negative impacts of EPS and plastic pollution in Hawaii's water: <br /> •Plastic is known to negatively impact some of Hawaii's most charismatic, economically <br /> valuable, and ecologically important marine animals: sea turtle, manta rays, seabird, and <br /> fish. Scientists project that EPS and other plastics will be found in 99% of seabirds by 2050 <br /> (Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences 2015). <br /> •Ocean species are harmed by ingested plastic pollution causing mechanical blockages [e.g., <br /> gastrointestinal obstruction in seabirds] and chemical poisoning. Deleterious chemical <br /> effects are caused because fragments of this pollution can contain contaminants added <br /> during plastic manufacture or acquired from seawater through absorption processes. <br /> •Research is continuing to highlight plastic pollution entering into marine food chains and <br /> human seafood systems. This includes both the EPS/plastic fragments themselves and the <br /> chemical toxins they have absorbed. This affects a range of species including a number of <br /> iconic seafood species in Hawai'i, such as mahi-mahi. <br /> Thank you for taking this positive step forward not only for the present-day ocean and human health,.., <br /> but for future generations. I am pleased that your council is cognizant and reactive to the important <br /> linkages between human health and ocean health. <br /> Regards, <br /> Comm. No. <br /> 141.2"1 <br /> -- Ref. To: <br /> P <br /> Dr. Douglas McCauley Ref. Date ! A 0 8 `;;^'. <br /> 1 <br />