Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0140.019 2014-2016Leslie, Earlanne From: Rene Umberger [octopus@maui.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 7:24 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: Hawaii County AWESC Bill 318 in SUPPORT From: Testimony Submittal <keomaiver emaikcom> Date: February 16, 2015 at 7:16:08 PM HST To: octopusnmaui.ne[ Subject: Hawaii County AWESC Bill 318 in SUPPORT Reply -To: <keomaivg(_&maikcom> Name: T -mail: City ................._ State My message to the Committee: Kealoha Pisciotta keomall�(I fmall.conl POB 5864 Hilo HI 96720 Aloha Chair Wille and AWLS Committee Members, I support Bill 318 protecting Hawaii's reef wildlife from harmful aquarium trade starvation and insufficient water volume during shipping. I wish to thank you for this opportunity to speak to this very important issue and to speak for the proper and compassionate care of our beloved ocean and reef family. My name is Kealoha Pisciotta, I am President of Mauna Kea Angina I lou and Founder of Kai Palaoa. Kai Palaoa a marine protection groups and is dedicated to promoting the health, well-being and survival of our oceans and all life. Our family and Hanai (extended family) are Hawaiian Practitioners •, artists, grass roots activists, inventors, scientists, advocates, surfers, divers, fishers, educators and entrepreneurs who believe change in the world is possible and who dedicate themselves to the promotion of a more beautiful, clean, healthful, sustainable and just world for nor future generations. COMASSION AND ALOHA 1 am here to testify in support of Bill 318 on behalf of two organizations, named Kai Patron and Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, To be clear we wish the bill went further and we would support a complete ban on the Aquarium Fish Collection Trade altogether. We are here however, because we believe, at a minimum, Bill 318 helps to return some COMPASSION back into and otherwise cruel, senseless and totally unsustainable taking of our reef fishes and fainly. SCIENCE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL I understand there are some saying there is no science --to support this bill or a ban but this is false --there is science and it called the KAPU system which was a truly sustainable system that supported Comm. No. 14�• 19 Ref. To: Ref. Date 17 2015 the people, feed them and protected ecosystem for thousand so years here in Hawaii. That is science as it is measureable and repeatable. However the KAPU system it could not support this industry because the KAPU system was for protecting food stocks—with the Aquarium Fish Collection Trade we are not taking people fishing to feed their families and/or their community --the AQ Fish Collectors arc just taking the fish and shipping them off to live a stressed and very shoe lives, mostly for Human entertainment. AQ FISH COLLECTORS ARE NOT. _ARE NOT FISHERS This issue is not about fishing at all it is simply about taking --and this is A'ole Pone! I am particularly concerned with AQ Fish Collectors attempting to claim that they are fishermen or fisher women and to claim the same rights and privileges afforded fishers, because AQ Fish Collectors are neither. "They are not fishers at all, first and foremost because they are not gathering fish to feed their families or their communities as real fishers are. They are not Native Hawaiians fishers gathering fish to feed their families and/or their communities either.'I a try to lump the two together could set a dangerous precedence. Real fishermen have enough challenges and classifying AQ Fish Collectors in the same way is unacceptable. NOT SUSTAINARI.F. For any system to be construed as "sustainable" at a ntinimunt there must be a replenishment of what is taken—and in the ideal you must replace more than what was taken --so this industry can in no way shape or form be construed a., sustainable --it is all about laking and nothing about giving! A'OLE PONO - LIFE OUT OF BALANCE: Lastly, it is not only fish but also other sea animals such as eels that are being taken — many of these animals are'Aumakua belonging to different families of Hawm I and that is not appropriate either --as it upsets the balance of our spiritual harmony as well as that of the reef and the whole Ecosystem. For these reasons 1 ask this Council to please pass this Bill 718 and I pray that you may seek in the near future to adopt measures In ban the Aquarium Fish Collection Trade Forever! In Aloha I remain. I thank you very much for your time and consideration Kealoha Pisciotta keomaiv¢(atgmaiLwm Also www.krmalaoe.com Mahalo for the opportunity!