HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0862.006 2008-2010 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
From: Christopher Peter Hoy [petehoy @gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 11:59 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Judith Smith - Perino
Subject: I oppose the ban on aquarium collection on coral reef fishes in Kona, Hawai'i
Dear Council Members,
I oppose the ban on aquarium collection on coral reef fishes in Kona, Hawaii for
the following reasons:
re: Impacts of aquarium collectors on coral reef fishes in Kona, Hawai'i
Dr. Brian Tissot's 20 year macrocosmic study of Pelekane Bay shows:
Seaweeds declined from 13 species to one, invertebrates from 106 to 21, and fishes
from 64 to 57 over the 20 -year period. Similar declines occurred in the percent of
live coral cover (over 84%), and fish density (350).
Dr. Tissot concludes "..these changes..(are) likely...in response to long -term
sedimentation stress due to chronic terrestrial run -off and reduced ocean
circulation in Pelekane Bay associated with massive deforestation in the Kawaihae
watershed and the construction of the Kawaihae Harbor revetment.
Dr, Tissot goes on to say... "...(though) the results of (the specific collection
study) indicate that aquarium collectors are having significant impacts on eight of
the ten species examined...in order to assess whether these abundance patterns are
clearly due to aquarium fish collecting requires better knowledge about the
intensity and location of collecting activities...(and)...It is strongly suggested
that additional conservation measures be applied to this fishery, and current
efforts to establish a marine reserve network in Hawai'i are supported by numerous
studies as a successful method to manage reef fisheries.
Dr. Tissot does not suggest a ban on collection of coral reef fishes in Kona,
Hawaii.
Sincerely yours,
•
Christopher P. Hoy
Christopher Peter Hoy
P. 0. Box 1000
Kamuela, Hi. 96743
808 885 8822
r —
cc
Comte. No. 0 (P 2. �o
Ref. Tor von) L
Ref. Drae JUL 2 0 2010
7/19/2010