HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0730.019 2008-201004/06/2010 11:39 FAX
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Comm. No
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7
2010
04/06 /2010 11:40 FAX 2002
Support for RESOLUTION NO 30810
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Dear Council Members, =+0
Within the state of Hawaii, our marine aquarium fish numbers are in decline. Past &ff4rts1 G
through Fish Replenishment Areas and Marine Life Conservation districts have ass'ed wit
decreasing fishing pressures within these areas where fish are abundance is recovering, but
areas outside of FRA's and MLCD's are declining as fishing pressure has increased. Even with
current management in place to help rebuild stocks, open areas have seen a 46 percent decline
in yellow tang abundance in the last decade. We need resolution 30810.
April 6, 2010
The concepts within Resolution no 30810 have been vetted in the public and is fully supported
by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council. Res. No 30810 is not trying to close the fishery, but is a
way to better manage it as current levels of aquarium fishing are unsustainable even with the
current 34% of the coastline off lirnits to fishing. Many people have expressed their distaste for
the aquarium fishery In Hawaii. With the revenue of tourism to West Hawaii because of the
reefs, one can wonder why it is still in operation. This Resolution is looking out for Hawaii's
economy to simply manage the take of our reef fish in order to allow those who are
economically tied to the fishery to continue, while maintaining sustainable populations of our
precious reef fishes.
I write to you today to support Resolution no 30810 that will:
1. Implement adaptive management of the Fish Replenishment Areas which specifically allows a
reef area at Pebble Beach South Kona to be closed to aquarium collecting while opening a
similarly sized area at Keauhou for limited collecting by lottery thus maintaining a balanced
proportion of open to closed fish collection areas.
2. Create a tropical fish white list specifying which species can be collected for the aquarium
trade and a bag limit for Large reproductively mature yellow tang and
3. Propose Limited Entry regulations for West Hawaii that would ensure participation in fish
collection for the aquarium industry requires a high level of skill experience and regulatory
compliance by fishers protects the economic value of the reefs and their marine life and
provides economic incentive to fishers to promote good stewardship of the reefs
Camille Barne