HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0333.028 2010-2012Murashige, Laura
COMM 3 (R.L.6". 1,3C-())
From: Susann S. [susannsl @yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 11:45 AM
To: counci !testimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Protect Hawaii's Fishes from the Aquarium Trade!
C3
Dir Sirs,
Please keep Hawaii's Fishes on Hawaii reefs.
Stop Aquarium trade.
Thank you for helping our underwater friends!
Page 1 of 1
?IGRc
• Coral reefs - -only a small part of the marine environment -- are home to > 25% of the world's ocean fish and are among the most
biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth.
• Collection of corals for the aquarium and jewelry industries typically targets rare, slow - growing, long -lived animals.
• Overharvest can cause localized destruction of reefs, increased erosion, and loss of habitat.
• 1.5 million live stony corals, 4 million pounds of dead coral, hundreds of thousands of other invertebrates, and 65 -110 thousand
pounds of red and black coral are imported into the U.S. alone every year.
• The global trade volume is unknown.
• According to a 2011 World Resources Institute analysis, human activities have put some 75 percent of the world's coral reefs at
risk. Many have been damaged beyond recovery.
• 90% of reefs have been found to be missing species of high value to international trade.
• Corals are collected by dragging iron bars along the ocean floor, wiping out entire eco- communities. The pattern of exploitation is
clear: new, untouched coral beds are found and wiped out by collectors who leave a trail of destruction in their path.
Kind regards,
susanns 1 @ yahoo.co.uk
9/16/2011
COMM. No.
333.22
Ref. To: Ptau.ero 6. R
Ref. Date SEP 2 0 2011