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Murashige, Laura
From: Nona Pickering [nona @pickering.net] '
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 3:41 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
t;
Subject: In Support Res. 363 -10
Aloha Chair Naeole- Beason,
Mahalo for considering this resolution.
Please pass it to protect this threatened natural Hawaiian legacy from the excesses
and wastes of commercial exploitation.
So much is taken - so little given back.
Hawaii's fish do not belong in aquariums - they belong on their reefs.
Please help protect Hawaii's wildlife, reefs and traditions.
In the late 90's UH research showed that aquarium collecting had significantly reduced
Big Island fish populations.
To protect those remaining, in 2000, aquarium collecting on over 30% of Big Island
reefs was prohibited. 10 Years Later - the results are in.
The good news: inside these protected areas, Yellow Tangs and a few other species
have increased significantly.
The bad news: it didn't work for some species. Worse in the areas open to
collecting, fish populations have plummeted.
Yellow tangs are down an additional 45% since 1999.
During this 10 year management effort, millions of Kona Coast reef fish have been
sacrificed to this mainland hobby (data provided by DLNR):
7,500 Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasses (endemic species & most die within weeks)
7,700 Potters Angelfish (endemic species & most die within weeks /months)
8,200 Moorish Idols (most die within weeks)
11,000 Fourspot Butterflyfish (most die within weeks)
Tens of thousands of others, plus
2.8 million yellow tangs (est. 97% die within a year in captivity)
Sincerely,
Nona Pickering
Nona Mull Pickering
nona (i�pickering.net
http: / /www.kamaolecondo.com/
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Ref. Tot Dc,
RaA Date
10/18/2010