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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0730.041 2008-2010Murashige, Laura From: Sent: To: Subject: RCS. 3oE(- to CoMM• 7i Sheryl Weinstein [mzsexymermaid @yahoo.com] Monday, April 05, 2010 5:16 PM counciltestimony©co.hawaii.hi.us Please STOP Fish Collectors Attachments: RES_308_Draft_01_2008- 2010.pdf; We _NEED_Your_Help_KUPS_4- 7- 10.odt Page 1 of 2 P /cou REC; . iVED • Ail 7 96 CCUN CLERK COUNT r E Hi ;'NA1! Dear Hawaii County council Members & fellow citizens: Please support all legisdation to limit or prohibit commercial fish collectors from as much of Hawaiian waters as possible!!! I am a scuba diver and personally witnessed the decline and absence of the majority of fish populations along the Kona coast. PLEASE HELP SAVE OUR PISH!I!! Sincere aloha, Sheryl Weinstein ******************************************************************* * * * * * * * * *** * * * ***** * **._,_,_ * ** Here we go again. We were all disappointed by the result of the shark fin ban. However, we have a chance to win one, I hope! This Wednesday, April 7th, the County Council will take a final vote as to whether or not they will support the DAR Resolution 308 -10. The 'first reading' was passed but it is very important that people show their support through Testimony to their Council Reps, and the entire County Council. The deadline for Testimony is Tues., April 6th at 9am. 1 have attached 2 documents with explanations. We are hoping that you will take a few minutes to e -mail your County Council Representative to show support for this resolution. Go here to see who your representative is and their contact information. http: //www hawaii- county com/council/distncts.htm You can e -mail directly to the County Council here: counciltestimony @co.hawaithtus. This package includes 3 essential points: Reso. No. 308 -10 urging DLNR to adopt rules presented by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council regarding tropical fish collection 1. Allows a reef area at Pebble Beach 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. Creates a 'white list' of species that can be collected by the aquarium trade (all other species are prohibited), and a bag limit for large reproductively mature yellow tang. 3. A proposal to limit the number of licenses for fish collecting in West Hawai'i. These are the 3 ideas proposed in this Resolution. We hope that the County Council will support this Amendment package, thus showing widespread support for these actions. Ultimately, it is only Governor Lingle who can ask her Attorney General to approve this DAR Administrative Rule change. Following such approval by the Attorney General's office, there would be a public hearing. Many thanks, Sue & John Kellam 4/6/2010 Ccsva. Mo.. 130 f Ref. To: f F Ref. Date APR 0 7 2010 Friends of Pebble Beach 4/6/2010 Page 2 of 2 COUNTY OF HAWAI'I RESOLUTION NO. 308 10 STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES, TO ADOPT RULES RECOMMENDED BY THE WEST HAWAII FISHERIES COUNCIL FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE WEST HAWAII AQUARIUM FISHERY INCLUDING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FISH REPLENISHMENT AREAS, ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AQUARIUM FISH SPECIES' "WHITE LIST," AND A LIMITED ENTRY PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the marine aquarium fishery in the State of Hawai`i is one of the most economically valuable commercial inshore fisheries and the majority of the catch and value comes from West Hawai`i; and WHEREAS, entry into this lucrative fishery is presently unlimited, the required aquarium fish permit is free, and a commercial marine license is only $50 per year; and WHEREAS, with the notable exception of the West Hawaii network of aquarium protected areas (Fish Replenishment Areas), other aquarium management regulations are sparse; and WHEREAS, as reported in the Division of Aquatic Resource's recent Five Year Report to the Legislature: 1. Yellow tang populations in the open areas have declined 47% over the past decade: 2. Over the same time period of time, the number of collectors has increased by 19% and the total catch has increased by 25 %; and 3. Open areas have less than 30% of the number of yellow tangs as compared to the protected areas; and WHEREAS, the recent dumping of over 600 tropical fish, mainly yellow tang, and reports of ongoing poaching prove that the our marine aquarium fish industry needs better management and protection from irresponsible-fishers, whether legal permit holders or illegal dealers; and WHEREAS, it is believed that this unique and precious resource cannot sustain such growth without ample protection and regulation; and WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council recognizes that there is a need to more effectively manage the West Hawai`i aquarium industry through several different management approaches; and WHEREAS, the West.Hawai`i Fisheries Council has recently submitted a number of recommended rule amendments to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which include a variety of management proposals that will protect the tropical fish resource without unduly restricting the tropical fish trade business; and WHEREAS, these rule amendments include: 1. The implementation of 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. The creation of 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. The proposal of 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; and WHEREAS, the Hawai`i County Council believes that while this industry contributes to the economic health of the Island of Hawaii, it should not be at the expense of our island resources and other ocean oriented businesses; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it hereby urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. to adopt the package of rule amendments, proposed by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council, which include Limited Entry regulations, adaptive management of Fish Replenishment Areas, and a list specifying which tropical fish are allowed for collection and trade. RE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to the Chairperson of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources; the members of Hawaii State Legislature; the members of County Council of Kauai, Maui, and the City and County of Honolulu; the Honorable William P. Kenoi, Mayor, County of 1- lawai`i; the Honorable Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., Mayor, County of Kauai; the Honorable Charmaine Tavares, Mayor, County of Maui; and the Honorable Mufi Hannemann, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu. Dated at , Hawai`i, this day of COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii I hereby ceruly that the foregoing RESOLU'T'ION was by the vole indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the Cuunt� uY l t:nv al t on ATTEST: COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER INTRODUCED BY: COUNCIL MEMBE • O i TY`O WAIT 3 ENRIQUES FORD GREENWELL HOFFMANN IKEDA NAEOLE - BEASON ONISHI YAGONO YOSHIMOTO AYES NOES A135 EX Reference: RESOLUTION NO. ROLL CALL VOTE 2010. C- 730 /HSEDC 308 10