HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1145.086 2012-2014Regarding County of Hawai'i Bill 318
Regarding County of Hawai'i Bill 318
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Andrew Rossiter <andrewro@hawaii.edu>
Mon 11/17/2014 11:48 AM
To: Council Testimony;
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Andrew Rossiter (Dr)
Comm. No A 011
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Ref. Date Mv 1 5 ZU14
https:Hwebmait.hawaiicounty.gov/owa/ 11/17/2014
Regarding County of Hawai'i Bill 318
November 17, 2014
Dear Honorable Members of the Hawai'i County Council,
I would like to take this opportunity to express my serious concerns regarding County of Hawai'i
Bill 318. This bill would purportedly improve the welfare of aquarium life by prohibiting fasting of
transported animals and establishing an arbitrary water volume for transport purposes. Neither
of these recommendations has any scientific basis, and run counter to accepted knowledge and
shipping practices of proven success and veracity.
The Waikiki Aquarium is 110 years old, and is the second oldest public aquarium in the United
States. A part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, its activities focus upon marine education
and research, and conservation of Pacific marine life. It is the State Aquarium of Hawaii and
has an international reputation for the quality of its exhibits and marine life husbandry, and for its
research and conservation activities. Annually, over 300,000 people, both Hawaii residents and
tourists, the Aquarium, and over 30,000 Hawaii schoolchildren take part in our education
programs
The Aquarium is at the forefront of marine life conservation in Hawaii, and bases its activities
and efforts upon sound scientific evidence, and not sentimentality or heresay. In this regard, I
have strong reservations about the veracity of this bill, which has no scientific basis for its
recommendations or conclusions. Were it to be implemented, it would result in greater stress
and mortality to shipped fishes.
First, as cold - blooded animals, almost all fish species can be safely fasted, often for several
days, without adverse health effects.
Second, fasting for one or two days is a routine procedure prior to fishes being shipped. This
allows the digestive canal to be cleared, and means that the water in which the fishes are
transported will not become fouled. The measure recommended in this bill, of shipping fishes
which are not fasted, will inevitable mean that they will foul their water, which will almost
inevitably lead to severe stress or death.
Third, fishes which have been fasted have a lower metabolism, and thus a lower oxygen
requirement, which means that shipment is inevitably safer and less stressful than for non -
fasted fishes.
Fourth, the Aquarium regularly ships and receives live fishes and corals using accepted water
volumes and packing densities, and has a success rate approaching 100% live arrival. I and
my staff are unaware of any reports or scientific studies that recommend the one - gallon for each
`aquarium life' proposed in this bill. Indeed, it is hard to imagine why such a report would be
needed when the existing shipping system is clearly already almost perfect.
In conclusion, the first provision of this bill regarding fasting has no scientific or biological
support, and will actually lead to higher stress levels and to higher rates of mortality. The
second provision, that of one gallon per 'aquarium life', is wholly without scientific basis, and
does not merit serious consideration.
The Waikiki Aquarium will continue its work in conserving the marine life of Hawaii, and in
educating the public about the biological treasures found around Hawaii's shores. I respectfully
recommend that this bill is dismissed, and that attention is instead directed towards the real and
substantial issues facing Hawaii's reefs.
Respectfully yours,
Andrew Rossiter (Dr)
Director, Waikiki Aquarium
Professor, Department of Biology
University of Hawaii at Manoa.