HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0883.004 2008-2010I am disturbed that people are asking that the aquarium fish collectors in Kona be put
out of business by stating that a high percentage of the fishes they collect die before
they reach the consumer, and that they are causing serious depletion of our inshore
reef fishes. I have dived with collectors in Kona and I am familiar with their operation.
Obviously they take extreme care that their fishes do well. If they do not, they will not
remain as collectors very long. To say that they are causing a significant depletion of
our reef fish populations is false.
These people should focus on opposing the use of gill nets. Hawaii is the only
maritime state that does not ban gill nets. Here is what was written by the Pacific
Fisheries Coalition: "There are many indiscriminate fishing methods that are extremely
destructive. One of the worst are set or lay gillnets. The use of set monofilament
gillnets has decimated the populations of inshore fishes in the main Hawaiian Islands.
While some configurations of giilnets are used responsibly in ways that surround and
catch only the targeted species, lay gillnets are deployed as invisible walls that snare
everything that runs into them, depleting both targeted and non - targeted species,
destroying bottom habitat and protected species, and severely impacting the
snorkeling and diving industries. The bycatch may amount to fifteen times the volume
of the targeted catch."
There is also reason to be very concerned over the impact on our reef fishes from the
introduction of the grouper known as the Roi (Cephalopholis argus) from the Society
Islands. Because about 15% may cause ciguatera fish poisoning, there is little fishing
for it. I have made a study of the food habits of this grouper. Up to 95% of its diet
consists of reef fishes. It has left its predators behind in Tahiti, and its population is
steadily increasing. Some of our reef fishes are showing the impact. The Hawaiian reef
fishes have not previously had such an efficient predator living on the reefs with them.
We need to raise funds to produce the ciguatera test kit free to all who request it, and
start eating this fish. It is sold in the fish market in Papeete, Tahiti, and it is nearly
fished out in Guam. It is a mystery that it can be ciguatoxic in Hawaii.
Another way to reduce the impact of the Roi is to have angling and
spearfishing contests, with prizes for the most Roi and the largest Roi. I wish I were a
billionaire, and I would set things in motion to reduce the population of this destructive
species.
Another obvious need in our islands is more Marine Life Conservation Districts
(MLCDs). For Kona this should mean changing the FRAs into MLCDs and should
include bans to all commercial activity. These reserves work, but most users oppose
them without realizing their value.
John E. Randall, PhD
Comm No. k 3
Ref. To: 17 P�SL
Ref. Dote. QC_Q 2, 71110