HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0862.017 2008-2010 Jul 19 10 02:02a The Gerald Klaz Trust 310 - 392 -6121 p.
Sea Dwelling Creatures, Inc.
310 -676 -9697 x 234
wwwseadwefling.com
^01 JUL 19 Pig 7 S'?
fax ' D
TO: Hawaii County Council FROM: Eric Cohen
FAX: 808 - 961 -8912 PAGES: 3
PHONE DATE: 7/18/2010
RE: Resolution 363 -10 Testimony CC:
♦ Urgent ;0 For Review 0 Please Comment ❑ Please Reply 2 Please Recycle
Comments:
Forwarded testimony regarding Resolution 363 -10 from Eric Cohen, co owner Sea
Dwelling Creatures, Inc.
Thank you
Comm. No. g(02
Ref. To :, PJR5ED
Ref. D te,„JUL 2.O 2410 -.—
JUL 19,2010 07 :93A 000 -000 -00000 page 1
RESOLUTION NUMBER 363 10
Lu1 JUL 1 `r
Dear Council Members, r t ui? 1 fax >010
My name is Luca Price and I have been a full time aquari r )sh. collector'for the past nine years.
I feel that the proposed ban is completely unwarranted and would have an extremely detrimental
effect on many fisherman's lives, especially in these tough economic times. I live simply and
within my means, but taking my job away would likely mean taking my home away because
there just are not jobs with comparable incomes available to me on the Big Islarc.. and I do not
know how I would be able to maintain a mortgage and monthly bills without the i acome 1 count
on from fishing. I have lived here for 16 years and have nothing but love and respect for the
island, the environment, the ocean, and all of its inhabitants. 1 have prided myself on being a
responsible arid conscientious fish collector and never, under any circumstances, conduct myself
in a manner that is deliberately harmful to the reef or the fish_ 1 do not have a "take-no-prisoners"
attitude when fishing, nor do the collectors that I associate with. To say that fish c,--hectors are
responsible for the destruction of the reef and the dwindling fish population is simply' untrue.
Scientific studies have already been conducted with respect to the impact of fish �,ollection on the
reefs of the Big Island, but what about scientific studies on the booming development of Ilawaii's
coastlines? Worldwide reef studies indicate that chemical runoff and sediment overload from
coastal development, among otut. things, are contributing to the death of reefs a a rate twice that
drain forest loss...certainly the same is likely contributing to the problem with l Iawaii's reefs.
Perhaps our hotels and golf courses can be made to help our reefs by beginning use safe,
organic fertilizers and soil conditioners. This is certainly not a single culprit p_rc t- : r2rn and to point
the finger of blame at one particular party seems biased and unfair.
There is a wealth of misinformation circulating throughout the public, and jus because there may
be the proverbial one or two bad seeds in the bunch does not mean we are all ..e same and that
we selfishly take and destroy with no regard. Nothing could be further from the mill. The beauty
of our fishery is that it is well managed, thus allowing it to be a sustainable, nark zally renewable
resource. Over the last nine yea: s, on a year to year ba 1 cans iestly say ti - ..re have been
ups and downs, but that overall there has been a �i.eL) in the fish po .run. The
numbers on our fish reports are a testament tc tint fa : :L. And 1 eve, as Dr r aish's scientific
research has shown, the FRA's ate working bcautifc,i , 3alar s key in any :.,.0:.cessful fishery
Effective management, establishing bag air it: for ce i .in less .: , ndant spec, and creating a
mutually agreed upon limited entry prog am a all things that support whole .°redly But
please understand how darnagi:,g a complete ;ban on fish collecting will be to . ;v local
individuals, both with and , ._ wt Faz it yr a sZ Mpport. Time act enoug : now and you
are considering creating a whole new groip of unemployed isIL d 4 dents e v f ew, if any,
viable options for replacing our _r n :r come,
Thank you very much for , side 2 c..; ri zent:
Sincerely,
Luci Price
,