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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1145.123 2012-2014COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII RECEIVED Timer -lif PAI By Date /%y & QLAZUL SAVING NEMO: MARICULTURE AND MARKET -BASED SOLUTIONS TO REFORM THE MARINE ORNAMENTAL TRADE Bren School of Environmental Science & Management University of California, Santa Barbara A group project submitted in partial satisfaction of the degree requirements for the Master of Environmental Science & Management Team Members Clara Cartwright Stephanie Horii I Niki Mazaroli Amanda Nelson ( Kate Nixon I Ariadne Reynolds Faculty Advisor Steve Gaines March 2012 Comm. Nr� - 123_ Ref. To: GV Ref. Date 019 761 Y 4.w sample size, we would be 95% confident that our estimate of the amount of money that the total population of fish owners spent last year on fish was accurate within $100. ( 1.96 x Q 12 ri — \Margin of error / n = (1.96 x 724.27 2 224.39 l 7_ loo ) We continued collecting data until we gathered at least 225 survey responses. Our final number of survey responses was 232. The survey can be found in Appendix C. Results for consumer survey Our consumer survey analyzed U.S. consumer preferences and willingness to pay for captive- raised or wild - caught marine ornamental fish. We used the results from our survey to explore the potential for a mandatory warranty, which would be a novel economic strategy that might reform the supply chain. Warranty analysis Cyanide fishing has been widely documented as a common fishing practice in the Coral Triangle, and it has been estimated that at least 70% of fishes sold for marine aquariums were caught using cyanide (Mak et al 2005). Fish exposed to, cyanide suffered from chronic toxicity due to exposure (Mak et al 2005). Many of the effects of cyanide were irreversible, so even if a fish was given the best possible care after it was caught, cyanide- induced mortality might be unavoidable (Mak et a12005). Additionally, fish faced other stressors from the supply chain that increased mortality, including variable temperatures, salinity, oxygen, and pH levels, being jostled during transport, and being shipped in overcrowded packing materials. Based on the information gathered from our survey, approximately 80% of mortality that occurred after fish had been purchased could be attributed to problems in the supply chain. Reducing these sources of mortality could reduce the number of fish needed to meet consumer demand, therefore reducing the number of fish harvested from the reef. Additionally, according to our survey, 28% of all fish sold were replacements for fish that had died within a year. In the marine aquarium trade, a significant amount of sales have been made because customers were unknowingly buying a damaged product. As the market currently stands, stores (and suppliers) have no incentive to change their practices, because each level of the supply chain is profiting from customers 25 buying fish to replace a significant number of fish that die in home aquaria. Stores suffer fish losses before the fish are sold, but the profits made from customers buying replacement fish are high enough that stores do not have incentive to purchase healthy fish to avoid fishes dying in stores. One option for a simple, top down legislative solution to reform the marine aquarium trade would be to implement a mandatory warranty for all vendors in the United States. A warranty would address two problems: 1. A warranty would provide consumer protection against buying (and then paying again to replace) an inferior product. 2. A warranty would provide a simple, top down solution to motivate stores to only purchase from suppliers that do not use harmful collection or handling practices throughout the supply chain. A warranty would only be an effective tool if stores lost money with a warranty in place. When facing an expected loss in profits, stores would have an incentive to look for alternative ways to make money. Stores could regain some of their losses if they reduced the number of fish dying in customers' homes by purchasing sustainably sourced fish. If a mandatory warranty provided a financial incentive for stores to reform their supply chain, a warranty could be a simple, effective tool to promote change. Methods for warranty analysis To run a warranty analysis, we first had to consider the current state of the market and how the revenue and costs would change if a mandatory warranty were implemented. For this analysis, we only included costs and revenues directly related to fish sales. We did not include fixed costs of maintaining and running a store, which we assumed were constant and not directly related to fish sales. After analyzing how a store's costs and revenues would change with the implementation of a mandatory warranty under current practices, the final step was to calculate how the costs and revenues would change under a mandatory warranty if all fish supplied to stores were sustainably sourced. In order to run this analysis, we used the following equation to represent the revenues and costs of fish - related sales for U.S. stores: Total Profits Related to Fish Sales = Customer purchase price — Store's initial investment in fish + Expected future replacement sales — Costs of in -store mortality With a warranty, we could use the same equation except stores could charge a price premium for a warranty, and stores would have to pay the costs of replacing fish 26 We were interested in detennining how many fish are expected to die after two weeks (the amount of time we assumed fish stay in stores before they are sold) from problems in the supply chain. In order to determine the mortality due to supply chain error, we ran an analysis using only responses from "experts," (survey respondents with five or more years of experience) to find the cumulative mortality over time due to problems in the supply chain. To find the mortality rates per day, we used the following equation for each separate time interval (0 -3 days, 4 -7 days, 8 -14 days, 15- 30 days, 31 -180 days): Dt =1 —` 1 —Mt Mt = mortality rate at day t Dt = mortality rate per day at day t We then used the per -day mortality rates to find the cumulative mortality through 14 days using the following equation: I: 1,14Dt * (1 - Dt -1) We found that 11.3% of fish are expected to die within 14 days due to problems in the supply chain. Stores make an initial investment of $0.3774 for each dollar's worth of expected fish sales, so the overall losses to stores are 11.3% X $0.3774 = $0.0427. We realize that in -store mortality may vary greatly from store to store, and for this analysis we chose to assume that fish remain in stores for two weeks on average before they are sold. See Appendix F for a chart of possible losses to stores under varying turnover rate scenarios, including a range from a 1 -day turnover to a 2 -month turnover. We now had a complete picture of all revenues and costs related to profits from fish sales under the current market. 32 Appendix G Species used in supply chain analysis Species Common name(s) A budejduf vai iensis Common sergeant / Sergeant major damselfish Acanthurus leucosternon Powderblue sur eonfish / Powder blue tan Acanthurus lineatus Lined sur eonfish / Clown tan Acanthurus maculice s Sot -face surgeon / Maculice s tan Acanthurus ni ricans Whitecheek surgeonfish / velvet surgeon / Powder brown tan Acanthurus olivaceus Orange-blotch surgeon / Oran eband surgeon / Orange shoulder tan Acanthurus vro erus Mimic sur eonfish / Chocolate tan Am hi rion clarkii Yellow -tail clownfish / Clarks clown Am hi rion ephippium Red saddleback anemonefish / Saddle anemone Am hi rion ocellaris Clown anenomefish / Ocellaris clown Am hi rion percula Orange clownfish / Percula clownfish Am hi rion polymnus Saddleback clownfish / Black saddle clown Am hi rion sandaracinos Orange anemonefish / Orange skunk clown A olemichthys trimaculatus Threes of angelfish / Fla fin angel Bodianus diana Diana's ho fish Bodianus mesothorax Mesothorax ho fish / Black belt ho fish / Eclipse ho fish Centro v e bicolor Bicolor angelfish Centro e e bis inosus Coral beauty angelfish Centro v e eibli Eibl's angelfish Centropyge loriculus Flame angelfish Centro v e nox Midnight angelfish Centropyge tibicen Keyhole an elfish Centropyge vroliki Pearl scalleed angelfish / Half black angel Ce halopholis cyanosti ma Blues potted hind / Blue spotted grouper Cetoscarus bicolor Bicolor Parrotfish Chaetodon auri a Threadfin butterfl fish Chaetodon bur essi Cirton butterfl fish / Burgess butterfly Chaetodon kleini Brown butterfl fisb / Klein's butterfly Chaetodon lunula Raccoon butterfl fish Chaetodon melanotus Blackback butterfl fish Chaetodon meveri Scrawled butterfl fish / Meyer's butterfly fish Chaetodon raj Ilesi Latticed butterfl fish / Rafflesi butterfly Chaetodon reticulatus Reticulated butterfl fish s) Chaetodon reticulatus Reticulatid butterfl fish m Chaetodon tri ascialis Chevroned butterfl fish Chaetodonto lus melanosoma Black velvet angelfish / Grey oma Chelmon rostratus Chelmon butterfly fish / Copperband butterfly Chromis margaritifer Half & half puller / Bicolor chromis Chrysi tera cyanea Sapphire devil / Blue damsel Chr si tera parasema Goldtail demoiselle / Yellowtail blue damselfish 136 Chrysi tera talboti Talbots damsel Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura Red-eyed wrasse / Blue sided fairy wrasse Coris qvgula Clown coris Coris gaimard Yellowtail coris / Canary wrasse / Gaimard wrasse / Red coris wrasse Dasc llus trimaculatus Three of dasc llus / Domino damsel Dor rham hus dactvlio horus Ringed pipefish / Banded pipefish Forci i er lon irostris Longnose butterfl ish / Yellow lon nose butterfl fish Gom hosus varius Bird nose wrasse /Bird wrasse / Brown bird wrasse G mnomuraena zebra Zebra mores Hemi vmnus melts terus Half & half wrasse Hemitaurichth s potylepis Pyramid butterfly-yellow Hippocampus erectus Lined seahorse Labroides dimidiatus Bicolor cleaner wrasse Meiacanthus atrodorsalis Forktail blenn Naso ele ans Naso unicorn / Blonde naso tan Naso lituratus Oran es ine / Orange-spine unicornfish / Naso tan Naso unicornis Shortnose Unieornfish / Unicorn tan Nemateleotris ma ni ica Fire goby / Firefish goby Novaculichth s taeniourus Dragon wrasse Odonus ni er Redtoothead tri erfish / Niger trigger Ostracion cubicus Yellow boxfish / Yellow cubicus O momacanthus lon irostris Harlequin filefish / Orange spot file Paracanthurus he atus Blue tan Para Ivphidodon melas Royal damsel (m) / Bluefin damsel Paru eneus c clostomus Yellowsaddle goatfish / Yellow goatfish Platax pinnatus Pinnatus batfish Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides Spotted grunt sweetli s / Harlequin sweetli s ! Spotted sweetli s Plectorhinchus orientalis Oriental sweetli s Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus Jewel damsel Pomacanthus im erator Em pc angelfish / Im erator angel Pomacanthus navarchus Majestic angel Pomacanthus semicirculatus Semicircle angelfish { Koran angel Pomacanthus xanthometo on Blue -faced angelfish f Blueface angel Premnas biaculeatus S inecheek anemonefish / Maroon anemonefish / Maroon clown Pseudanihias pascalus Purple queen / Purple queen anthias Ptera o on kauderni Banggai cardinalfish Ptereleotris evides Blackfin dartfish / Scissortail goby Pterois antennata Broadbarret firefish / Antennata lion Pterois radiates Radial firefish / Radiata lion Pterois volitans Lionfish / Red lonfish / Volitan lion Pv o lites diacanthus Regal angelfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus Blackbar tri erfish / Humu humu trigger Zebrasoma des'ardinii Palette sur eonfisb / Des'ardinii sailfin tan Zebrasoma avescens Yellow Tan Zebrasoma veli erum Sailfin tan 137 §711 -1109 Cruelty to animals in the second degree. (1) A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals in the second degree if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (a) Overdrives, overloads, tortures, torments, beats, causes substantial bodily injury to, or starves any animal, or causes the overdriving, overloading, torture, torment, beating, or starving of any animal; (b) Deprives a pet animal of necessary sustenance or causes such deprivation; (c) Mutilates, poisons, or kills without need any animal other than insects, vermin, or other pests; provided that the handling or extermination of any insect, vermin, or other pest is conducted in accordance with standard and acceptable pest control practices and all applicable laws and regulations; (d) Keeps, uses, or in any way is connected with or interested in the management of, or receives money for the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock, or other animal, and includes every person who encourages, aids, or assists therein, or who permits or suffers any place to be so kept or used; (e) Carries or causes to be carried, in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner; (f) Confines or causes to be confined, in a kennel or cage, any pet animal in a cruel or inhumane manner; (g) Tethers, fastens, ties, or restrains a dog to a doghouse, tree, fence, or any other stationary object by means of a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar; provided that a person is not prohibited from using such restraints when walking a dog with a hand -held leash or while a dog is engaged in a supervised activity; or (h) Assists another in the commission of any act specified in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(g). (2) Subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), and (h) shall not apply to: (a) Accepted veterinary practices; (b) Activities carried on for scientific research governed by standards of accepted educational or medicinal practices; or (c) Pest control operations conducted pursuant to chapter 149A by a pest control operator licensed pursuant to chapter 460J, if the pest control is performed under a written contract. (3) Whenever any animal is so severely injured that there is no reasonable probability that its life or usefulness can be saved, the animal may be immediately destroyed without creating any offense under this section. (4) Cruelty to animals in the second degree is a misdemeanor, except where the offense involves ten or more pet animals in any one instance which is a class C felony. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; am L 1986, c 192, § §1, 2; am L 1998, c 173, §2; am L 2007, c 114, §4; am L 2009, c 160, §1; am L 2011, c 226, §1; am L 2013, c 210, §2] Law Journals and Reviews Cruelty to Animals: Recognizing Violence Against Nonhuman Victims. 23 UH L. Rev. 307 (2000). Case Notes Constitutionality upheld. 61 H. 136, 597 P.2d 590. .w.... / /__.__.__......:a../ A ntnTAI noee rtmon'7> > IF imo ^"A A Inn La.__fl i 1117/1hnt A n.nc.en A un 'f�it>r WA Live Animals Regulations 2. PREPARATIONS BEFORE DISPATCH There must be one species per bag The inner bag must be filled with water to approximately 1/3 of its capacity, The remaining 213 of the container is to be filled with oxygen Use of ice cubes or chemicals such as methylene blue volume of water and the amount of fish in the container are the shipper's responsibility Carriers will not re- oxygenate fish ship- ments unless by special prearranged agreement. d Seahorses can be shipped in plastic bags as long as they can anchor themselves to something in order to minimize stress An anchoring substrate must be a PVCmesh or similar substrate with multiple grasping surfaces for the seahorse, placed inside the bag and weighed down to the bottom of the plastic bag with non - leaded weights_ The anchoring substrate must be sufficiently weighted so that it remains in contact with the bag bottom and does not move easily during transport. Anchoring to another seahorse or any f e- floating substrate is not acceptable. A recommended maxi- mum of three animals of a length of 60 mm (or four of 45 mm) can be packed in a 250 -380 mm bag. If shipment goes from warm to cold climate, it is suggested to add a heat pack. Conversely, it seahorses are shipped from cold to tropical climate. ice packs should be used. Aquatic amphibians can be shipped in the same manner as fish, but as some of them are able to breath air and will do so, the airspace above the water should consist Of 50% pure oxygen and 50% normal air like in air breathing fish. Pure oxygen can be detrimental to lung tissue. Aquatic amphibians are not to be fed 2 days prior of shipment to avoid fouling of the water. The condition of fish and amphibians is directly affected by. 310 the density, i,e the number of fish or amphibians according to size in a given quantity of water, temperature of water, For tropical fish insulation must be provided by the shipper within each unit to ensure a suitable temperate of 20 °C (68 °F) for the longest possible period Some species must be individually packed due to ther sensitive reactions or aggressive tendencies. Shippers must pack fish to survive unattended for sit least 48 hours from time of acceptance by the airline Mote: For aquatic amphib /ans from tropical regions Irke Pi p& Typhlonectes, the temperatures should & about 20T (68'F) For other species like Axoft, New and Salamandar larvae, Andrus and Crypto&anchu.& the temperature should not exceed 15°C (59 °F) The shipper must clearly mark on the container the loss time and the date at which the animals were packed The shipper must indicate the acceptable temperature range fin Celsius and Fahrenheit) on the outside of the' box in which the animals can be stored. 3. GENERAL CARE AND LOADING (see Chapters S and 10) Animals must be held in areas where the ambient ear temperature reduces the heat transfer to the absolute minimum. No consignment of fish must be accepted if the planned ioumey exceeds 48 hours (unless life support is aval- able) Consignments of live fish must be treated as Perishable items and handled accordingly. For the purpose of providing life support for aquatic species during transport. a cylinder containing oxygen, (compressed), UN 1072, packed in accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, may be earned to oxygenate the water with the approval of the appropriate authority of the States of origin destination and of the operator Refer to CR59 and CR60. se annvk oerowR 2o,2 CONTAINER REQUIREMENT 51 The illustrations shown in this Container Require- ment are examples only. Containers that conform to the principle of written guidelines but kook slightly different will still meet the IATA standards. ppticable to: Aquatic Amphibians Cut-ul Fish, n.o.s. (unless arrangements made for specialized packing) Goldfish Octopus Seahorses Tropical fish Water snail OPERATOR VARIATIONS: JL -01, LH -02, QF -01 I. CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Materials Water - resistant fibreboard, insulating material. ptastic or wood, expanded polystyrene or styrofoam. Principles of Design The following principles of design must be met in addition to the General Container Requirements outlined at the beginning of this chapter Outer Container The outer container can be constructed of fibroiboard, wood, wood products or any plastic material of adequate strength. Purpose -built containers made of expanded polystyrene or styrofoam must be of adequate strength EXAMPLE: Evan Outer c iz Labels may I)e imprinted on box Contai r Requirements Care must be taken to ensure no sharp edges or stapled closings on the outer container punctures the inner plastic bag, which expands from change in altitude. Inner Container Strong plastic (polyethylene) bag. The bags are fastened by twisting the top and folding the twisted part so that it can be sealed with elastic bands. The bags may also be heat sealed Warning: Neat- seated bags cannot be re- oxygenated in the event of the consignment being delayed. It is preferable that each bag is placed in an outer bag of similar size to prevent leakage of water Note: States may require the physical inspection of the Carl- tents of shipments tendered by shippers meeting a specific state mandated criteria as determined by the transporting carrier. Spiny fish must be placed in an inner container of hard plastic within a polyethylene bag or they may be contained in an inner polyethylene bag separated by several layers of paper from an outer polyethylene bag. In such cases, both bags must be adequately sealed. Insulation /Cushioning Expanded polystyrene container or expanded poly- styrene sheets on all sides including top and bottom. is recommended. Alternatively, compressed newspaper, woodwool or approximately 0.6 cm (% in) thickness of newspaper or other fibrous material sandwiched between two sheets of kraft paper. Top wasted and loo Plastic bag (polyethylene) inner container Elastic bands — -► yy Bap to contain � 14 water Fibreboard outer container of insulation sides, tup and bottom labels may be imprinted on box 1 61 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #13 - January 2005 13 Monitoring the chain of custody to reduce delayed mortality of net - caught fish in the aquarium trade Peter J. Rubec' and Ferdinand P. Cruz2 Abstract Information obtained from hobby magazines and from informants in the aquarium trade during the mid - 1980s indicated that marine aquarium fish had high acute mortality (50 %) on the reef due to capture with cyanide, and had 30% mortality on average at each step of the chain of custody — from the village level, through export facilities, to import facilities, and to retailers in North America. More recent data show there is some reduction, although there continues to be high rates of mortality in the marine aquarium trade. The scientific literature also demonstrates that fish experience cumulative stress from being netted, bagged, crowded, and exposed to changes in pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, light, and from the accu- mulation of ammonium ion in the bags (which becomes toxic un- ionised ammonia when the bags are opened). It is believed that with better capture methods (e.g. nets), as well as better handling and shipping practices, it is possible to reduce the mortality at each step of the chain of custody. It is difficult to obtain accurate marine fish mortality information regarding cyanide- caught fish because those involved fear regulation and /or prosecution for dealing in fish captured by illegal means. Research is needed (with marine fishes held in sealed plastic bags) to determine the range of environmental condi- tions encountered during transport from exporting to importing countries. Research with freshwater fishes has been successful in prolonging survival in shipping bags by adding chemical additives to inhibit the proliferation of bacteria, neutralize excreted ammonia, buffer pH, and by sedating the fish to reduce their metabolism. Similar research is needed with marine aquarium fish. We hope to demonstrate that with bet- ter post - harvest care and handling it is possible to markedly reduce mortality rates of marine ornamental fish during collection and transport. Introduction Plastic bags were first used by tropical fish importers to package aquarium fish for trans- port by air and /or in motorized vehicles in the early 1950s (Miller 1956). Marine aquarium fish were exported by Earl Kennedy from the Philippines in plastic bags starting in 1958 (Robinson 1985). In 1962, Kennedy noticed greater mortalities of marine aquarium fish in his export facility associated with fish obtained from collectors on Lubang Island, south of Manila. He learned that the fish were being col- lected with sodium cyanide. The marine aquar- ium trade expanded in the 1970s, fuelled by an abundant supply of cheap fish caught with cyanide. Kennedy left the trade in disgust after he accompanied air shipments and witnessed high mortalities of the fish after their arrival in the US. Dempster and Donaldson (1974), at the Steinhart Aquarium, conducted histological studies during the mid -1960s on marine fish obtained from California waters that were experimentally exposed to sodium cyanide. They found damage to internal organs such as the liver, kidney, spleen and brain. The tissue damage matched that found in marine aquarium fish imported from the Philippines. Rubec (1986,1987a) summarized information from various aquarium hobby magazines and from sources in the industry concerning mortality rates for marine aquarium fish in the aquarium trade. It was estimated that 50% of the fish targeted with cyanide died from acute doses on the reef, and that there was on average 30% delayed mortality at each step of the chain of custody. It was estimated that the cumulative mortality through the four steps of the chain of custody (from villages, to export, import, and then to retail facilities) was greater than 80 %, if one excluded the acute mortal- ity on the reef (Rubec 1987b). Including the mortal- ity on the reef, the cumulative mortality from reef to retailers was estimated to be greater than 90 % (Rubec and Soundararajan 1991). The papers sum- marized evidence showing that delayed mortalities 1. International Marinelife Alliance, 28004th Street North, Suite 123, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A. Tel: +1727- 327 -9226. Email: peter - rubec @cs.com 2. East Asian Seas Initiative, Suite 205, CRS Tower, 1535 Perdigon St., Quirino Avenue, Plaza Dilao Paco, Manila, Philippines. Tel: +63 2- 561 -8335 loc 205. Email: ferdiecruz @i- manila.com.ph 4 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #13 - January 2005 were associated with cellular damage and physio- logicaI impairments resulting from exposure to cyanide ( Rubec 1986,1987a). However, there are those in the aquarium trade who have maintained that the problem is not cyanide, but that it is all "stress, stress, stress" (Goldstein 1997). Goldstein cited a scientific study by Hall and Bellwood (1995) in which damselfish were experimentally exposed to 10 milligrams per litre (mg L -1) cyanide for 90 seconds. He asserted that high mortalities were associated with stress and that the highest mortalities were associated with fish that were both stressed and starved. He stated that there was no evidence that anaesthetic doses of cyanide caused either gut epithelial changes or more mortality than occurred with net - caught fish. Another assertion in Goldstein's (1997) magazine article was that, based on the evidence to date, net collecting did not deliver healthier fish than collecting with cyanide. No evidence was pre- sented. Rubec et al. (2001) discussed mortalities in the aquarium trade and acknowledged that high delayed mortalities of marine fish were probably associated with a variety of factors, including cyanide, stress, ammonia, oxygen depletion, dis- ease, and starvation. It is necessary to consider all factors influencing the fish in order to reduce mor- talities occurring in the aquarium trade. There are many factors that lead to mortalities of marine aquarium fishes, including physical dam- age and the use of chemicals such as sodium cyanide during collection, inferior water quality, poor handling, disease, and stress at all stages dur- ing collection and transport (Wood 2001; Wabnitz et al. 2003). Sadovy and Vincent (2002) stated that mortality levels in both the live food and live aquarium fish trades range from a few per cent to 80% or more for cyanide- caught fish and /or where poor capture, handling and maintenance practices produce stressed animals. The source of the mor- tality, however, is not always clear. The problems that must be overcome for the suc- cessful transportation of live fish are many and diverse (Norris et al. 1960; Fry and Norris 1962). The primary problem arises from the water's low capacity for oxygen, together with its low capa- bility to dissipate the end products of fish metabolism. The secondary problem is that of handling. In delicate species, abrasion needs only to remove the mucus from a fraction of the area of the skin in order to rob the fish of essential pro- tection from osmotic stress. In addition, many fish are so stimulated by handling that they read- ily accumulate dangerous levels of lactic acid in their blood. Excessive changes in temperature are also deleterious. Scientipc studies to determine factors causftu mortality Hanawa et al. (1989) studied the response of hum- bug damselfish (Dascyllus aruanus) to cyanide. Groups of 10 humbug damselfish were dipped into several concentrations (25 or 50 mg L-9 of cyanide ion (CN -) for either 10, 60 or 120 seconds (s); mortal- ity was measured within 96 hours. Test damselfish exhibited no mortality after being dipped in 25 mg L-1 CN- for either 10 s or 60 s. There was 60% mor- tality after exposure to 25 mg L-1 CN- for 120 s. Likewise, there was no mortality after exposure to 50 mg L-1 for either 10 or 60 s; but 100% mortality occurred within 96 hours (h) after CN- exposure for 120 s. Under stressed conditions (being bagged) pre- viously non -lethal exposures (50 mg L-1 CN- for 60 s) were 100% lethal. Hence, both stress and cyanide resulted in higher mortality after exposure to CN- for a shorter time period. There was impairment of oxygen consumption by the liver tissue of test fish documented 2.5 weeks post- exposure. Hanawa et al. (1989) concluded that handling stress in combina- tion with anaesthetic doses of CN- could in part explain the delayed mortality associated with CN- use in the tropical fish trade. Hall and Bellwood (1995) assessed delayed mortal- ities of groups (16 per group) of damselfish (Pomacentris coelestis) exposed to cyanide, stress and starvation, alone and in various combinations, over a 13-day period. With each factor separate, the cyanide -only exposure (which also involved han- dling) resulted in the highest delayed mortality (37.5 %), followed by stress -only (25 %) and starva- tion -only (0 %). Among the paired combinations, stress +starvation produced the highest mortality (66.7 %). The stress -only condition and the han- dling control both had 25% mortality, indicating that those conditions were stressful to the fish. The results demonstrated that cyanide influenced the delayed mortality both alone and in combination with the other factors. While starvation -only did not produce mortality during the experimental period, the percent mortalities for cyanide +starva - tion and stress +starvation indicate the importance of starvation in combination with the other factors. Concurrent conditions During shipping, several environmental parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, temperature) change concurrently in sealed polyethylene plastic bags (McFarland and Norris 1958; Fry and Norris 1962). This makes it difficult to infer which environmental parameters may have killed the fish. A study by Chow et al. (1994) is the only one that has separately determined levels of each environmental parameter inducing 50% mor- Rationale for 1 gallon /fish includes research showing that bagging a fish for ten minutes in %Z gallon of water (to simulate transport) contributes to fish mortality via increased stress. Hanasaa et al (1998): At this point, the literature is unclear about the long -term effects cyanide has on fishes if they survive initial exposure to the drug. The Hanawa et al paper sought to clarify both the acute and long -term effects of cyanide exposure. Additionally, they studied the impact cyanide has in light of research that had been conducted on rainbow trout exposed to sub - chronic levels of a cyanide derivative. These trout "displayed marked anemia." The hypothesis was that fishes exposed to cyanide would have lower hemoglobin concentrations and a lower blood oxygen content. Specifically, they wanted to look at the oxygen consumption rate in the liver as they hypothesized that it would be impaired in fishes exposed to cyanide. They conducted a series of experiments exposing 6o fishes (DascylIus aruanus) to cyanide treatments of 25 and 50 ppm for io, 6o and 120 seconds; there were ten fishes in each group. They found that exposure at 25 ppm for 120 seconds caused 6o96 mortality and 50 ppm for 12o seconds caused l00% mortality 96 hours after exposure. All other groups (which had shorter exposure times) experienced no mortalities after 96 hours. Next, they conducted a second series of experiments in which fishes were exposed to 25 or 5o ppm cyanide, but all groups (again, ten fish per group) ivere treated for only 60 seconds. They added some stressors to some of these groups of fishes to see -.% ,hat results, if any, would occur. There were two . on o sv�Q ov.Y, 1 to 9r nnm white the other so nom_ but npithPi had any additional stress imposed. Another two groups of 25 and 50 ppm exposed fishes were bagged in two liters of sea-mater for ten minutes before being returned to their aquariums, to simulate transport. I He final Two groups were intentionally cnased WIM a Hand nex in fneir ME ior To minutes Two ana one half weeks after exposure, simulating a retail experience (although, speaking as a former local fish be handed your %alking papers). Done of the groups experienced any mortalities except for the group exposed at 5o ppm for 6o seconds that was bagged. All of those fishes died. November 17, 2014 TO: Honorable Chair and Members of the Hawaii County Council "Section 1. Findings" of Hawaii Bill number 318, has NO basis in fact, in actual practice, scientific data or research, to support these proposed requirements for the transport and handling of tropical fish, and is highly discriminatory. I strongly oppose it for these reasons. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, requires shippers to "responsibly pack specimens to survive 48 hours in transit ". Feeding fish prior to shipment causes shipping water to become fouled. Ammonia, a product of fish waste, is toxic to fish and would insure high mortality rates during transit. So, in order to meet the IATA 48 hour rule, withholding food is "essential to clear the gut of food to minimize the fouling of transport containers ". The IATA live animal regulations, known as LARS, contains detailed criteria and recommendations and guidelines which has been developed over decades of experience involving the transport of hundreds of millions of live animal shipments. The IATA LARS are the GLOBAL adopted standard and incorporated in national laws, and prescribed by one or more United Nation's Treaties. Bill 318 would require shippers to violate these regulations, which have long been the practiced standard in the pet industry. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, referred to as CITES, has now adopted the IATA LARS as a substitute for its own guidelines. Fish are cold blooded and do NOT require daily feeding. They do, however, require clean water and oxygen. It is important to keep metabolic rates of fish at a low level prior to shipping so that less oxygen will be consumed. This is accomplished by reducing temperature, combined with cessation of feeding for several days prior to shipping. These are guidelines from the APEC Fisheries Working Group, January 1999. Water requirements for shipping is not a "one size fits all" situation, but varies by species, pre- shipment conditioning, age, size, and length of transit. The passage of this legislation will not only limit a fully sustainable trade, but would prevent the normal and ethical transport between facilities under the best standards of practical care. I encourage you to carefully review the written submission of the Pet Advisory Council. This bill does NOT support the ethical treatment of aquatic life. In fact, it actually will have the impact of insuring high mortality rates, and therefore must not seriously be considered for passage. Respectfully submitted, Sma+l business owner and Kailua Kona resident for 37 years. November 18, 2014 Chairperson Wiley and Committee Members, I am opposed to Bill 318. 1 am a full time commercial fisherman for aquarium fish. These fish are shipped interisland and out of state in an enclosed bag of water with oxygen. While providing food 24 hours before shipping may seem well intentioned, it will in fact be very detrimental to their survival. If fish are fed 24 hours before shipping, toxic metabolic wastes, bacteria, and basic excretions will be introduced into this bag of water by normal digestive processes. These substances will cause disease, tissue damage, and possible death to any fish subject to such conditions for an extended period of time. Increasing the volume of water to one gallon minimum will not mitigate the harmful effects of fish waste. It would be better to minimize the introduction of the waste products instead. Please do not pass Bill 318. Thank you. Dennis Yamaguchi The preparation and shipping of live animals is not conducted in a vacuum. ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES Jim Boschee (WPA) • ■JAC PET INDUSTRY JOINT shippers nor airlines dealing with live animal transport prosper economically by ADVISORY COUNCIL 1146 19" Street, N.W., Suite 350 transporting sick, dying or dead animals. Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-452-1525 Fax: 202- 452 --452- 15151 6 As a preliminary comment, we find It most interesting that the subject Bill CHAIRMAN Testimony of the Ken Oh Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council W F Young, Inc., East Longmeadow, MA On FIRST VICE - CHAIRMAN raises interesting questions of the true intent of a bill ostensibly designed to Jeff Sutherland County of Hawai' i Animal Supply Company, Federal Way, WA Bill No. 318 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 g p SECOND VICE- CHAIRMAN "animal welfare." Such rank discrimination raises interesting questions why Greg Cyr November 15, 2014 Central Garden and Pet, Walnut Creek, CA State and non -State regulated fisheries! sterner sheries! Good governance is made of steer g g SECRETARY/TREASURER To Whom It May Concern: Andy Ponte United Pet Group, Cincinnati, OH DIRECTORS The following comments are submitted on behalf of the Pet Industry Joint Ryan Boyle Advisory Council ( PIJAC), the world's largest pet trade association representing unte The Hunto Corporation, Goodman, MO the interests of all segments of the pet industry. For more than 40years, PIJAC Tom , DVM Petco Animal Supplies, San Diego, CA has promoted best practices for handling and care of live animals. For many Bruce Flantzer decades, PIJAC has been engaged in all aspects of regulating the movement of MiracleCorp Inc., Dayton, OH live animals via all modes of transport. Il Chris Fleming Pinnacle Pet, Neosho, MO PIJAC has actively participated in the deliberations of the International Air Heather Govea Natural Balance Pet Foods, Burbank, CA Transport Association's Live Animals and Perishables Board leading to the Rolf Hagen publication of the IATA Live Animal Regulations, the globally accepted Rolf C. Hagen Inc., Baie D'urfe, Quebec standards for transporting animals of all types. p g Yp John Mack, Reptiles By Mack Xenia, OH Michael Peterson I chair the IATA Live Animal Board's Advisory Committee that is responsible The Pet Group, Carlsbad, CA for ensuring that the Regulations' standards for and shipping live Laura "Peach" Reid preparing animals reflect up -to -date animal welfare and veterinary husbandry practices Fish Mart West Haven, CT Inc., In applicable to the preparation/conditioning of the animals pre- shipment, shipping Jim S nd Pet World, Inc., Rochester, NY containers, and handling during transport. Portions of Federal regulations as Joe Watson well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Petland Inc., Chillicothe, OH mandate compliance with the IATA Regulations when shipping covered species. Marcie Whichard Petco Animal Supplies Inc., San Diego, CA The preparation and shipping of live animals is not conducted in a vacuum. ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES Jim Boschee (WPA) Contrary to some beliefs of anti -trade activists supporting Bill 318, neither Calabasas, CA shippers nor airlines dealing with live animal transport prosper economically by Kevin Fick ( Worldwise, San Rafael, CA transporting sick, dying or dead animals. Steve King (PIDA) Pet Industry Distributors Assoc., Abingdon, MD As a preliminary comment, we find It most interesting that the subject Bill Sandra Moore (FTFFA) targets only certain aspects of activities involving aquatic life to wit aquarium Segrest Farms, Gibsonton, FL life destined onl for uarium use outside of the county, Such discriminato y q `J • � PAST CHAIRMEN James Heim treatment of a highly, if not the most highly regulated Hawaiian in -shore fishery Walnut Creek, CA raises interesting questions of the true intent of a bill ostensibly designed to Frank Koch ensure humane care when in fact it is designed to shut down interstate and Pacoima, CA international trade involving fish destined for "aquarium use" under the guise of Allan Levey New York City, NY "animal welfare." Such rank discrimination raises interesting questions why Alexandre Perrinelle ' similar restrictions are not imposed upon all fonns of aquatic activities, both Los Angeles, CA State and non -State regulated fisheries! sterner sheries! Good governance is made of steer g g Segrest Gibso ibsonton, FL stuff! PRESIDENT/CEO Edwin Sayres Quite simply there are no science -based studies substantiating a One Gallon rule or limiting the withholding of food for no more than 24 hours. IATA's guidelines covering feeding and watering are based on the documented premise that feeding and watering requirements must vary by species as well as by individual specimens within a species, mainly due to age, size, pre- shipment conditioning, length of haul, etc. Fundamental to IATA's approach, therefore, is shippers have the responsibility of utilizing the generally accepted animal husbandry and veterinary care practices when preparing their animals for shipment via air. IATA's Regulations provide that shippers are to responsibly pack the specimens to survive for 48 hours in transit. In order to meet the IATA 48 -hour rule, withholding food is essential to clear the gut of food to minimize the fouling of transport containers. Absent such pre- shipment protocols, the fish could be subjected to unacceptable toxic ammonia levels or other wastes resulting in poor water quality, which in turn is an undesirable stressor that could lead to death or serious morbidity. That is why customary practices as indicated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as information provided below, notes that a "2 -10 day fast is routinely done as a matter of professional practice." Such pre- shipment conditioning reflects acceptable veterinary husbandry practices. For example, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Transport Guidelines at page 73 provided, in pertinent part, that fish shipments should be packed "in order to minimize pollution of the water, fishes should not be fed for 24 hours prior to shipment." In crafting their Guidelines, CITES relied upon not only the IATA LARs of 1980, but also recommendations from leading researchers from around the globe from a number of zoos, aquariums, research institutions, and humane societies. CITES, at its Conference of the Parties in March 2013, adopted a resolution containing language applying IATA LARs along with several special rules unique to ground transport when transporting CITES- listed species by air or surface transport modes. The IATA LARs have long recognized that the withholding of food prior to shipment of aquatic organisms is a globally accepted practice not only within the ornamental fish trade, but also in the live food fish trade. The withholding of food prior to transport decreases the amount of excreta from the fish, reduces the metabolic rates, and thus reduces water pollution; pollution that could counter IATA's 48 -hour in- transit rule for tropical fish shipments. Withholding food also has been shown to reduce stress responses to handling and thus reduces unnecessary loss during packaging and transport. The IATA guidelines are based on not only years of empirical experience, but also from the literature. A 2010 publication of the University of Florida recommended "Withholding food from the [tropical] fish for at least 24 hours just before shipment allows them to purge their digestive tracts, which greatly reduces the buildup of wastes during shipping. It also takes longer for larger fish to completely empty their guts. " Watson, Craig A., Shipping Fish in Boxes, SRAC Publication No. 3903 (2010)(Emphasis 1 In recent years, CITES has adopted the IATA LARs as a substitute for its 1981 Guidelines. supplied) Approximately 10 years earlier at a University of Alaska Sea Grant Conference, it was reported that "All live seafood items should be starved for at least 24 hours before they are packed to avoid the inevitable occurrence of vomiting undigested food... " Post, Brian C., Rice, Allison A., et. al. editors, Marketing and Shipping ofLive Aquatic Products, Proceedings of the Second International Conference and Exhibition, University of Alaska Sea Grant Program, Seattle, Washington, page 197 (1999). (Emphasis supplied) And from the NOAA website, one can find the APEC statement at page 18: "Diurnal rhythms also affect oxygen demand. Handling and packing procedures sriould be designed to keep metabolic rates at a low level. In most cases, this can be accomplished by reducing temperature and eliminating feeding for several days prior to shipping. The optimal time to cease feeding varies depending upon the species. Feed reduction schemes should consider product weight loss in order to ensure that the product condition remains prime. " Air Shipment of Live and Fresh & Seafood Guidelines, APEC Fisheries Working Group, January 1999. (Emphasis supplied) In an Hawaii based report on shipping ornamentals, Drs. Cole, Tamaru, Bailey, Brown, and Ako found: "Feeding should be withheld for a minimum of two days and up to five days, depending on species, " Cole, B., Tamaru, C., Bailey, R., Brown, C., and Ako, H., Shipping Practices in the Ornamental Fish Industry; Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture Publication Number 131, (February 1999: Hawaii NOAA Sea -Grant project) (Emphasis supplied) Thus, it is clear from the literature that a specific 24 -hour limitation is not sacrosanct. As one would expect, the fecding requirements will vary not only among species, but also with specimens within a species depending on age, size, pre- transport conditioning, similar to what human primates experience. Quite simply, shipping fish without fasting appropriate for the . species can be dangerous and run counter to the desired mandatory standards being proposed. As noted in numerous papers regarding the preparation and shipment of fish destined for "aquarium use," no one has presented any science -based data substantiating the appropriateness of a One Fish/One Gallon minimum requirement when shipping fish destined for the aquarium trade, let alone any other use such as for food fish or non - commercial activities as exempted in the proposed Bill. While PIJAC supports humane transport standards, such standards must be non - discriminatory, science - based, and not a knee jerk reaction to activists attempting to misuse a county ordinance to effectively ban a state regulated industry that they historically have attempted to ban. The underlying justification for the Ordinance's "findings" coupled with misinformation floating around the Internet regarding unsubstantiated "loss," "the normal lifespan of aquatic life, " conflicting statements as well as reliance on several articles which deal with the Philippines or other remote fisheries, not the Hawaiian experience, reflects inulti- faceted analytical infirmities hardly supportive of the proposed Ordinance. It should not be overlooked that the Hawaiian aquarium fishery is a long- established, well - regulated industry by the State's Department of Land and Natural Resources.2 Thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments with respect to the proposed Ordinance. As an attorney having been intimately involved with the aquarium trade since the late 1960s3, I look forward to working with the Council to ensure that all regulated fisheries are managed and regulated pursuant to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity by promoting both conservation and livelihoods through enhancing equitable and sustainable use of wild species and their associated ecosystems. Respectfully submitted Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council N. Marshall Meyers Seiiior Advisor The most recent round of amendments to the State's West Hawai'i fishery rules provide a number of improvements to the regulatory mechanism. These reflect the results of years of research, committee meetings and community discussions. As before, permit holders are required to "to keep all aquatic life taken under the permit alive and in reasonable health" as well as "maintain the proper operation of facilities designed to keep fish alive and in reasonable health. 3 Over the years, my practice has involved representing the largest all -cargo airline, The Flying Tiger Line (now FedEx), as well as the pet industry, and a number of zoos, public aquariums, biomedical facilities and individual shippers. To the council members in regards to bill 318 I strongly oppose this bill I am a diver, wholesale distributor and exporter of Hawaiian reef fish with over 20 years experience and once again were having to defend ourselves from individuals making statements on subjects they have no actual experience with individuals willing to say anything whether it be hearsay or outright fabrications to shut down our industry because of their personal feelings. We wouldn't be able to stay in business shipping fish that don't survive. I'm not going to ask you to take my statement at face value but I would ask you to talk with wholesalers that we ship to, I am more than willing to give you contact information and I'm sure other wholesalers will also. Thank you for your time and consideration. Scott Brien Forbidden Bounty tropical Fish sbrien @hawaiiantel.net Testimony concerning County Council Bill 318 My name is Bertha Basabe, I am against Bill 318. I ask you all to please review the written testimony that was submitted earlier, including that from PIJAC, which is the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. You need to be aware of both sides of this issue. The PIJAC testimony clarifies why the two aspects of Bill 318 are very flawed. To change the present, and very successful transporting practices would actually be detrimental to the health and humane care of saltwater fish. Bill 318 appears to be targeting only the tropical fish aspect, why not the entire ornamental fish industry? I want to thank you all for your precious time, hopefully this issue won't waste much more of it. Aloha County Council Members My name is David Dart This testimony is in opposition to Bill 318 regarding aquarium fish treatment. I am here specifically to address mistaken beliefs that there is high mortality in shipping AQ fish from the Big Island. There is not a single bit of evidence that this is the case. There are zero scientific studies to back this up. There is, however, independent scientific studies done showing 100% survivability in shipping from Hawaii County. Beware of self proclaimed "reef fish experts" with no fishery degree and biologists who have not done any published studies with peer review and are closely associated with the opposition. What have they done in Hawaii County? On shipping off the Big Island? Ask them. No doubt the opposition here will come up with some study showing shipping mortality. No doubt it will be dated and show problems in shipping from a third world country where cyanide and destructive methods were used for collection. What about a Big Island study? Let's look at a recent two year independent Washington State thesis study done by Emily Munday, under the direction of Dr. Brian Tossot, a world renown reef fish expert, done right here in Hawaii county. Ms. Munday collected fish with local collectors using standard operation procedures. 60 yellow tang were separated out of the load and transferred to a local export shop where they were held, purged and then shipped to Portland in standard shipping bags. Sixty days later there were zero deaths. In fact 2 1/2 years later they are doing fine in an exhibit at the Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Center. This exhibit highlights the sustainability of the Hawaii aquarium trade. Shipping one fish in a gallon of water is nonsensical. Some of our fish are 2" fish while others may be 12 ". There is no credible science behind one size fits all. Our fish are packed according to size of fish and duration of flights. Experts know that it is the oxygen in a shipping bag that is the most important variable not water. Our outstanding success in West Hawaii providing quality, sustainable fish to world wide dealers is well known. Kole and yellow tang comprise over 93% of the catch. According to DAR biologist Dr. Walsh, since the Fish Replenishment Areas were implemented, there are 1.3 million more yellow tang and 3 million more kole in West Hawaii. As he said, "clearly, resource management is working in West Hawaii ". This bill does not recognize or cite any scientific study that would warrant such a drastic change from current best and proven practices. Mahalo Ok „...., a November 18, 2014 To: Hawaii County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability Re: Bill 318 in SUPPORT Aloha Chair Wille, Vice Chair Poindexter and Committee Members, Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Rene Umberger, I am the founder of For the Fishes and the co- founder of Reef Rescue Alliance, and a consultant to Humane Society International, all working to protect coral reef wildlife from harmful aquarium trade practices. The provisions in Bill 318 would address the mortalies for fish captured and shipped from Hawaii. Evidence shows deaths within the supply chain from reef to retail are likely over 100,000 fish. It shows that deaths range from 1% to 11% at each step in the supply chain and that these deaths can be mitigated with better handling and shipping procedures. The starvation prohibition and water volume requirement in this bill would address this need and reduce this loss of wildlife. Catch reports, industry surveys and studies all document these rates. Supply chain mortality for Hawaii fish in 2012: 378,430 — 3% (11,352) = 367,077 Collector to HI wholesaler (per DLNR catch report)* 367,077 —1% (3,671) = 363,406 At HI wholesaler (estimate per Cesar, 2002) 363,406 — 3% (10,902) = 352,504 HI wholesaler to LAX: DOA = 10,902 (industry self- reporting and Lim, et al 2003) 352,504 — 5% (17,625) = 334,879 w /in 7 days at LA wholesaler (industry self- reporting and Lim, et al 2003) 334,879 — 3% (10,046) = 324,833 LA to East Coast: DOA (same as above) 324,833 — 5% (16,242) = 308,591 w /in 7 days at East Coast wholesaler (same as above) 308,591 -11% (33,945) = 274,646 w /in 2 weeks at retailer (Cartwright, et al., 2012) Total Dead = 102,176 The highest mortalities are transport related with an industry standard of "acceptable losses” at 5% per shipment. Shipments from Hawaii may be lower, at 3 %, but that's unacceptably high. P.O. Box 1894, Kihei, HI 96753 ReneortheFishes.org * 808.283.7225 The trade claims there's no amount of water that will adequately dilute the fouling. But many examples show otherwise: A prominent aquaculture facility ships their captive -bred fish in adequate water after one feeding is withheld — their DOA's average far less than %2 %; and, The United Air Cargo Kona station manager states that the fish they accept for shipment were captured on the day prior to shipment and have not been starved. So at least one aquarium business is already doing this practice. It's time to end wildlife sacrifice for economy. 10 years ago a $20 million reform effort by experts in the global aquarium trade tried to address the high death rates. It required a 1% threshold for deaths at each step in the supply chain. A vocal opposition wanted the threshold set at 5 %, some argued for 10 %. The trade knew that if they couldn't regulate themselves, legislation would follow, and yet they rejected the 1% death threshold and reform effort. The time for legislation is now. Thank you for your time and consideration, Rene Umberger P.S. I don't know how many people will testify in public today, but each one of them should be thanked for having the courage to do so. For every person who's here, a handful of others declined, wanting to avoid the insult, intimidation and worse, this trade is known for. * Per DLNR, the reported difference between what was captured and sold reflects the mortality. In 2012 it was 3 %, or over 11,000 fish. This is higher than reported by Cesar in 2002, who asked aquarium trade members to estimate mortality rates for their trade. At the collector to wholesaler level they estimated 0 —1% mortality. Looking at collection reports since 2000, the actual range is 1 %— 3 %. P.O. Box 1894, Kihei, HI 96753 Rene FortheFishes.org * 808.283.7225