HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1145.140 2012-2014Aloha County Council Members,
My name is Dr. William Walsh and I am submitting testimony in opposition to Bill 318 relating to
the treatment of aquarium life which is scheduled for hearing by the Committee on Agriculture,
Water and Energy Sustainability on Nov. 18, 2014.
In my capacity as the West Hawai'i Aquatic Biologist for the Division of Aquatic Resources I
have been involved in the management and biological monitoring of the West Hawai'i aquarium
fishery for over 15 years. While this bill may be well intended in terms of reducing mortalities in
the aquarium fishery it actuality is neither necessary nor will it be beneficial. In all likelihood it
would prove detrimental to the treatment of aquarium life.
There are no studies, reports or empirical evidence indicating that current shipping practices in
the Hawai'i aquarium industry are causing undue levels of shipping mortality. Two studies
which have examined shipping mortality in Hawai'i (based on survey interviews) reported low
levels of mortality ranging from 0.75-2% (Dierking, 2005) to 2-3% (van Poollen and Obara, —
1984). A 2012 study by Washington State University Graduate Student, Emily Munday, 60 00
Yellow Tang caught in West Hawai'i, held in an export facility, then shipped from Kona to
Portland Oregon and subsequently held in captivity for nearly 6 months showed a 100% surviv ..
rate.
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Scientific studies which have indeed found high levels of mortality among aquarium fishes have
typically been conducted in remote areas with poor handling capabilities often involving the use
of toxic collecting chemicals such as cyanide. That is clearly not the case in Hawai'i. As noted
by a report from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) "Where organisms are
collected, stored and handled by adequately trained individuals, and transported in suitable
conditions, estimated levels of fish mortality have been as low as a few percent" (Wabnitz et al.
2002). Ail indications are that this is the case in Hawai'i.
I'll leave it to others actually involved in handling and shipping aquarium fishes to point out why
the provisions of this bill would actually harm fish being shipped. The key is relatively simple;
keeping the shipping water unfouled and well oxygenated – not a specific volume and certainly
not requiring that the fish be fed before shipping.
In conclusion l would like to share with you some of the results of our latest monitoring efforts as
they relate to the issue at hand. Two species, the Yellow Tang and Kole make up over 93% of
all aquarium fish caught in West Hawai'i. Since the no -aquarium collecting Fish Replenishment
Areas (FRAs) were established in 1999 (protecting 35% of the coastline), the numbers of Yellow
Tang have increased in the FRAs by almost 65% while not significantly decreasing in the
remaining Open Areas. In the 30'-60' depth range alone, the numbers of Yellow Tang in West
Hawai'i have increased by 1.3 million fish. Similarly Kole populations have increased not only in
the FRAs (by 24%) but also in the Open Areas as well (by 28%). Kole populations in the same
depth range have increased by over 2 million fish! Clearly resource management efforts are
working in West Hawai'i.
Mahalo for your attention and I look forward to your continuing support.
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Dierking, J. 2002. Socio -Economic study of the aquarium fish industry in West Hawaii. Cesar
Environmental Economics Consulting (CEEC). 20 pp.
Poollen, W.H. van, and Obara, A.M (1984). Hawaii's marine aquarium fish industry profile.
Studies on Marine Economics No. 3. Sea Ocean Resources Office Contribution No.
14. Grant College Program, State of Hawaii, Department of Planning and Economic
Development.
Wabnitz, C., Taylor, M., Green, E. and T Razak. 2003. From Ocean to Aquarium- The global
trade in marine ornamental species. UNEP -World Conservation Monitoring Center, Cambridge,
UK. 64 pp.