HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0345.017 2010-2012Murashige, Laura
Ct Pti
From: Bill Stockly [bstockly @hawaiiantel.net]
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 8:43 AM
Page 1 of 2
PicouNert.
To: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us;
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Cc: counciltestimony @ co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Testimony in Opposition to Res. 140 -11 and 130 -11
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Re; I am testifying in opposition to Res. 140 -11 and 130 -11. Please do not pass a resolution requesting tlie State,
of Hawaii to amend chapter 100 -.•�
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Aloha Ladies, Gentlemen and Member of the Hawaii County Council, _MondaWrNa
September 19, 20
I hope that all is going well with you. I see that it is a very busy time on the Hawaii County Council with all that
is on their plate. My name is Bill Stockly owner of Stockly' Aquariums in Kailua Kona as you may know I have
been in the "Tropical Fish Business" for well over 30 years. Also, some of you might remember the days of "Ich
and Uck" the two giant frogfish that I caught off the Kona Coast and were on display in a local restaurant in the
70's. The restaurant was Herkes Tavern in old town Kailua Kona. Local people and our tourists were always
amazed at such a strange reef fish. People who were not able to snorkel or dive when they come to Hawaii have
always enjoyed the beauty of seeing these reef fish aquariums in businesses around town. In fact, when the
town was so small "back in the day ", tourists would ask if the local Chamber of Commerce encouraged these
displays in the restaurants, dive shops, hotel and other business to promote our beautiful resource. I have
always had appreciation for our reef resources, which is why 32 years ago Lisa Chorquet (dive operator) and I sat
down at my home and tried to figure out a way to manage the ocean user conflicts. My back ground is fisheries
management and renewable natural resource management. The rules and regulations for the tropical fish
collection on the Kona coast in place today have met those criteria.
I feel that the effectiveness of the Fish Replenishment Areas instituted more than a decade age have gone a
long way to protect our Hawaiian Reef Fish. Kudos goes out to the West Hawaii Fishery Council, Hawaii
Department of Land and Natural Resources and our community for all their hard work in making these areas
possible. Since the implementation of FRAs, some species have seen an increase in their population. Presently,
WHFC and DLNR are working on a list of reef fish that can be caught and sold, so other fish that have not fared
so well will make a comeback in population numbers. I believe that fishery management in West Hawaii is in
good hands with the qualified people mention above. It is not the job on our county council. You folks have a lot
on your table and I could give a whole list. For instance the road that I travel on every night (Hualalai road) to go
home from work is full on pot holes and has grass growing in the cracks. But, I am not going to go on with this
long list of things that should be on your plate. Focus on what we elected you to do and not an area were WHFC
and DLNR are doing a great job.
Stockly's Aquariums has employed many people over the past 30 years. We have generated taxes and
services that go back into our local economy. Although we have never been a shipper of Hawaiian reef fish out
of the state on a wholesale basis, I depend on these fishermen for my product. Presently, we have over two
dozen aquarium accounts on the Kona Coast with Hawaiian reef fish on display. Our tropical fish store is a
landmark in the Kona Industrial Area, selling saltwater fish to the local hobbyist. 314-g'17
Comm. No.
Ref. To: !►s.e0+1"d COUl
Ref. Date SEP 21 2011
9/19/2011
Page 2 of 2
I am asking you to please vote no to Res. 140 -11 and 130 -11. Please do not pass a resolution requesting the
State of Hawaii to amend chapter 188.
Mahalo nui Aloha,
'gee Stoat',
president
Stockly's Aquariums, Inc.
9/19/2011