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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0730.031 2008-2010Testimony in Support of DAR Reso. No. 308 -10 urging DLNR to adopt rules presented b... Page 1 of 2 Murashige, Laura To The County Council: Betsy Morrigan 87 -3187 Honu Moe Road Kona Paradise Subdivision Captain Cook, HI 96704 Phone: 808 - 328 -8911 March 12, 2010 4/6/2010 Betsy Morrigan Registered Voter Resident of Kona Paradise Subdivision From: Betsy Morrigan [kayaklady @hawaii.rr.com] Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 2:59 PM To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi. us � [[[r' i A e lPl Subject: Testimony in Support of DAR Reso. No 308 -1 Jurging DL pt ruIiesrprgsenfed by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council regarding tropical fish colle Attachments: Testimony IN SUPPORT OF Reso. No. 308- 10.rtf 2010 APR 6 A l f 7 9 6 Please read my testimony in Support of DAR Resolution 308 -10 at the hearing on April 7. My testimony is here below and also in the attached file. Thank you. P�Gau Testimony IN SUPPORT OF 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 Hawaii. To the Hawaii County Council: I am a resident of the Kona Paradise subdivision fronting Kaohe Bay (Pebble Beach). I am a professor of English at Hawaii Community College and I also have an ecotourism business Hawaii Pack and Paddle. During the time l have Comm. No. Ref. To: Ref. Dot© Testimony in Support of DAR Reso. No. 308 -10 urging DLNR to adopt rules presented b... Page 2 of 2 lived here in Kona Paradise for almost twenty years I have seen both the number and types of fish decline, especially yellow tang and kihi'kihi. I have watched this process carefully, because I snorkel on this bay three or four times a week and I compare it to other areas where there is no collecting. I believe that most of the loss of these fish is due to aggressive aquarium fish collecting in this area. I see in other areas where aquarium fish collecting is prohibited that fish stocks have rapidly increased. I ask you to support this resolution which if then passed by the DLNR will improve the health of this extensive and beautiful reef that surrounds Kaohe Bay both to the north and to the south. This is a good compromise because it opens up a similarly sized area at Keauhou. I am also greatly in favor of the provisions to limit the type and number of fish collected. Please pass this resolution. The residents of Kona Paradise and Kona in general want our reefs protected and our fish population allowed to flourish. Betsy Morrigan 4/6/2010