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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 068 Draft 01 1988-1992OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: June 21, 1989 Action: Approve and adopt Resolution No. 68-89 Re: Res. 68-89/HSRC-16 COUNTY OF HAWA~~ ,S''TATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION No. 68 89 WHEREAS, in recent years ciguatera fish poisoning has occurred on the west sides of each of the four major islands in the State and is most prevalent on the big Island, where it is spreading along the west side; and 4JHEREAS, the eating of reef fish which contain ciguatera toxin l:as caused serious illness, including such disturbing symptoms as numbness, weakness and a reversal of temperature sensations which can persist for months; and Y7HEREAS, the areas where ciguatera is present have not been identified by surveys and research studies, but only by incidents of poisoning reported to the Department of Health and confirmed by laboratory testing at the University of Hawaii Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; and WHEREAS, nc laboratory in the County of Hawaii performs tests for the presence of ciguatera toxin in reef fish and the Department of Health sends fish suspected of causing ciguatera to Dr. Yoshitsugi Hokama at the University of Hawaii Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine for laboratory analysis; and WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has committed funds for the next decade to Dr. Hokama for the development of a test kit for use by fishermen; and WHEREAS, the Department of Health is doing limited testing of fish and of water in the vacinity of South Kohala and is proposing studies on the distribution of marine toxins in marine fishes; and WHEREAS, fresh fish is a very important food for those of us who call Hawaii home; and WHERE,SS, ciguatera poisoning affects the safety of the food supply and should accordingly be designated as a high priority issue by tYe State; and WHEREAS, t}:e cause of outbreaks of ciguatera poisoning is still unknown. PIOGd THEREFORE BE I'I RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it ask the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the State Department of Health to expedite its efforts to address the ciguatera problem by starting a pilot program of ciguatera testing on the Big Island either through the development of a test kit that can be used by fishermen to detect the presence of ciguatera toxin in fish or by setting up a local toxin center for testing of reef fish for the presence of ciguatera toxin. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVF,ll that it ask the State Department of Health and the Department of Land and Natural Resources to perform studies that will identify those areas on the island of Hawaii of high probability of ciguatera poisoning so that fishermen can avoid those areas. BE I'i FUR'PEIER RESOLVED that it ask the State Department of Health and tt~e State Department of Land and Natural Resources to work cooperatively to understand the dynamics involved in the growth of the microscopic marine organism that produces the ciguatera toxin and to find out u~hy incidents of ciguatera poisoning are increasing. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii be instructed to transr~iit true copies of this resolution to Dr. John C. Lewin, Director, Department of Health and P4r. William W. Paty, Jr., Chairperson, board of Land and Natural Resources. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 21st day of _ June , 1989. ~ .__ ~ COUNCIL MEt4BERS, Y: COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on June 21, 1989 ATTEST: _ _ . f r. ~~ 1 ~ ~ , ~ ~, Reference HSRC- A,u~ C[/~,/( JV~ COUNTY ~RK AIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. _ ROLL CALL VOTE AYES NOES ABS EX DOMINGO X HALE }{ INOUYE }{ KOKUBUN }{ LAI MAKUAKANE RUDDLE SCHUTTE YAMASHIRO 68 149 RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN Chairman & Presiding Officer MERLE K. I.A[ Vice-Chairwoman C~~.~~~~ C~~II~CIL ` Cowry of Haeoaii Hawaii Couuh~ BuildinS ?5 Aupuuf Streef Hilo, Hawaii 96720 June 23, 1989 Dr. John C. Lewin, Director Department of Health Kinau Hale 1250 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Enclosed is a copy of Resolution No. 68-89 which was adopted by the Council of the County of Hawaii on June 21, 1989. h~~~~~~ n A. Wagner OUNTY CLERK Encl. Also sent to: Mr. William W. Paty, Jr., Chairman Dept. of Land & Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl St. Honolulu, HI 96813 TA KAS HI DOMINGO HELENE H. HALE LORRAINE R. INOUYE ROBERT H. MAKUAKA NE HARRY 5. RUDDLE SPENCER K. SCH L"TTE STEPHE.\ K. Y,\M ASHIRO REPORT OF Tl1E COMt1ITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND RECREATION DATE: June 14, 1989 PLACE: Councilroom TIME: 9:00 a.m. Chairman and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Recreation to which was referred Resolution No. 68-89, reports as follows: The purpose of Resolution No. 68-89 is to ask the State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Health to (1) expedite efforts *_o address the ciguatera problem by starting a pilot program of ciguatera testing on the Big Island; (2) perform studies that will identify areas on the island of Hawaii of high probability of ciguatera poisoning; and (3) work cooperatively to understand the dynamics involved in the growth of the microscopic marine organism that produces ciguatera toxin and to find ou*_ why incidents of ciguatera poisoning are increasing. Your Committee finds that the spreading of ciguatera fish poisoning on the island of Hawaii is a threat to health, the fishing industry and the enjoyment of recreational fishing. Your Committee further finds that in the interest of public health and safety, the factors involved in the spread of ciguatera must be identified. Your Committee further finds that the capability for testing fish for ciguatera on the island of Hawaii would benefit the people and increase the public safety. Information on ciguatera poisoning was circulated. The information was obtained from Fish Poisoning in Hawaii published by the Deparmentment of Health, prepared by the Epidemiology Branch and revised July 1, 1988. Your Committee concurs with the Chairwoman's recommendation to approve the resolution. Your Committee on Human Services an. purpose of Resolution ido. 68-89 and County Council. 1 ~~~~~ . -- MERLE K. LAI', 9 Recreation is in accord with the recommen~s,_~ts adopt'_on by the ~ ~ ~~ ~CHA~T OMAN ~CS~ ~, \, ~ SPENCER K. SCHUTTE, VICE CHR. I LORRAINE R. INOUYE, `~EDIBR /~, ROBER'P H. ;~1AKUAKA:IE, MEMBL'R 3ARRY S. R.`DDLE, '^. E;?B3R HSRC REFI~RT i;o. _ LA/Tii ~(,s~, i ADOPTED.