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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1145.136 2012-2014November 18, 2014 2011 'NT"V 16 FM 2: 22 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 Rene@FortheFishes.org * 808.283.7225u-'-� 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 % %; 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 IeneCc?crthishes.or * 808.283.7225 §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 §l; am L 1986, c 192, §§l, 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. 2. PREPARAInONS ;BEFORE DISPATCH There Must Lt: one newt'" Per bag The inner bag must be filled With mater to Ods mat ly V3 of its capatsty J -he rentainir 'q 2M of the carritainer is to be if d with Oxygen Use bes or chem; is soon as afby�"e blue.volume Of water and Etre amount Of fish In V' container are the shippers M' ports ilify Camara will not r mate fish sh p- ts i ri s by sf a: d prem rig „ agreement .'� Sooners" car: nimtd in plasms bags as as they can Sathorthemselves to something in order to mtn1MEzD stress An anchonnqto must be F'Vtmosh or similar substrate vath €nuitspte, grasping {fir for trie seahorse PlacedAsAe the bag a nd wMahost down to the k ' r€iofhIf, ply bag i itf2 rt €guts. F a hO n substrate must be cta by as htt�'d tF3at It r Gins in comact wft the bag and s rsel� oa�sily dura tray o rrcfa ring to er soat' a a#tny frog - a in so te.feCOMMended_ may;- rrlurrs {� atgr! lrt$t 0t mm (or four of rrrr) posed Ira2W380 mrrr bag It sntpmnt goes from wan ate, it Is suggested to add n host packs Conversely, if seahoOros sltrtpfYtornCold to tropical dlthatO ICO PACtoi should be used A umi�7 amp+j;beiing sari be shipped in the Sarnia manner as fit but as Some of then are able to breath air and It tfa so, the fake a water shout mist of �4 pure Oxygen and s n ail .air tilt; in air breathing fich Pare oxygen can be detrimental to tang fl iiia Aquaijic amphibians Ore not to be Sed 2 days prior of shipment to av'saict kuI'ng of the gates,. The condition OT fish and a phi ans is darty affected by- e dere;f+ o. the number of fish or arriphibians OCOOM;nq to size Jit a ONen quantity of, water tropicallemperature, of water. For , Provided by suitable .1h s t �°. perlod $lar"O sPec*s most be individuagypacked due to t Sensitive reactions or aggre ,e Sbippem must Pack fish to survive unattended for least 48 hours from Orre of aco--pitance by the airline IMPIcal regions t to= a A �• i . GENERAL CARE AND LOADING (sea chapters and ) Artirnals must be hofd in ereas where the ambaer?f a miirrnlmur pe€Era ma ri a th his )t trernst'er to the absolu hio consignment of fish must be acoepted It the piann -JOUMeI y e s hours (unless lite suppOl is ave ah ) Consignments of live fish must be treated perishable items and handlaid 80cordingly, `ar theP*JrPosaof PrOvidiog life support for aqut ` rates clu"nS tray's rt. a cylinder containin g o yG 6 .,rnp d) UN 'tQi , c In accordance Ptah I iATA DaniPrOus Goods Mations- may be M ' oxygenate the av er with the abPrOval of the appropin, auttrentY OfZhu States of otin destination and oft rioafakg Peter to CR590nd 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]. 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 PIastic 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, 2800 4th Street North, Suite 123, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A. Tel: +1727-327-92.26. Email: p&r: r xtI c cs cpm 2. East Asian Seas Initiative, Suite 205, CRS Tower,1535 Perdigon St., Quirino Avenue, Plaza Dilao Paco, Manila, Philippines. Tel: +63 2-561-83351oc 205. Email: ferdie� niz i iminrla.com.nh Rationale for 1 gallon/fish includes research showing that bagging a fish for ten minutes in % gallon of water (to simulate transport) contributes to fish mortality via increased stress. Hanawa 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 (Dascyllus aruanus) to cyanide treatments of 25 and 50 ppm for 10, 60 and 120 seconds; there were ten fishes in each group. They found that exposure at 25 ppm for 120 seconds caused 60% mortality and 50 ppm for 120 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 50 ppm cyanide, but all groups (again, ten fish per group) were treated for only 6o seconds. They added some stressors to some of these groups of fishes to see what results, if any, would occur. There were two Uu&5mw%bAc Its 111111 had any additional stress imposed. Another two groups of 25 and 50 ppm exposed fishes were bagged in two liters of seawater for ten minutes before being returned to their aquariums, to simulate transport. one half weeks after exposure, simulating a retail experience (although, speaking as a former local fish ®ra l an ifyntian't �atrh riamaai fiv�m a zwtail Y nlr ' than nna min�rto vrn� RAO. be handed your walking papers). None of the groups experienced any mortalities except for the group exposed at so ppm for 6o seconds that was bagged. All of those fishes died.