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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1145.077 2012-2014Hawaii County AWESC Bill 318 in SUPPORT Hawaii County AWESC Bill 318 in SUPPORT X DELETE F— REPLY hawaii@reefrescueaIIiance.org Mon 11/17/2014 8:13 AM To: Council Testimony; Page 1 of 1 C,t)m M . 1 145 REPLY ALL FORWARD ••• mark as unread From: reeftime @host.advancedconfucius.net On Behalf Of Testimony Submittal <marilynnishi ymail.com> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2014 2:34 PM To: octopus @maui.net Subject: Hawaii County AWESC Bill 318 in SUPPORT Name: Marilyn Nishi E- mail: marilynnishi'W- ,nail . coin City Waikoloa State HI My message to the Committee: Aloha Chair Wille and Committee Members, I support Bill 318 protecting Hawaii's reef wildlife from harmful aquarium trade starvation and insufficient water volume during shipping. I love Hawaii; I live and work here; it used to have wonderful snorkeling with beautiful reef fish and colorful coral. No longer; snorkeling now, I see reefs covered in algae devoid of fish. I may see 2 tangs where there used to swim schools of fish! Please note: reef fish eat algae, so reefs are suffering. The aquarium trade takes thousands of these beautiful fish every year, with more than 50% of them dying before they even get to an aquarium. Therefore it is a vicious cycle of taking of fish to die, while we see Hawaiian reefs empty.. Why? Why do you allow the aquarium trade to profit at a terrible loss for Hawaii? Please think of Hawaii's beauty and ecosystem. But also realize that you are losing the thousands of dollars from the tourist trade who used to come to Hawaii to dive and snorkel - they will no longer come when there is nothing to see. Note: Hawaiian reef fish only reproduce in their natural habitat; they have not been able to reproduce in tanks. Until these fish can be crown and harvested in aquariums, we must stop the killing, starving, and harvesting of the fish from Hawaiian reefs. Thank you for your consideration, Mahalo for the opportunity! https:Hwebmail.hawaiicounty.gov/owa/ E 1 t,_ NDV 18 201 11/17/2014