HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.037 2014-2016Leslie, Earlanne
From: Rene Umberger [octopus@maul. net]
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 7.24 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Hawaii County AWESC Bill 24 in SUPPORT
From:'festimony Submittal <marilvnnishi(,lvmaiI.com>
Date: February 16, 2015 at 8:00:59
PM HST —'
To: octopus�o maui.net-
Subject: Hawaii County AWESC Rill 24 in SUPPORT
Reply -To: <marilvnnishi'avmaikcom>
Name:
Marilyn Nishi
E-mail:
'manlynmshi'�maiLcom
"Down
Waikoloa
Island
Big Island, III
My message to the Committee:
Aloha Chair Will. and AWES Committee
Members,
I support Bill 24 regulating business that capture and sell Hawaii's
reef wildlife to the mainland pet trade. The well-being of wildlife
should not be sacrificed for company profit.
I have been coming to Hawaii for years, and have always loved
snorkeling to see the beautiful schools of reef fish. Now Ibase
lived in West Hawaii for 2 I2 years, and am very disappointed and
discouraged to experience the lack of reef fish. Where there used to
be schools of tangs, there are only a few. Also, There are very lbw
varieties of reef fish and often the coral is a vast wasteland. I do
not believe that the amount of fish that the aquarium trade are taking
is "sustainable". Anyone who thinks this is true, needs to go our
snorkeling and see for themselves; or watch the videos showing the
aquarium people taking every single fish in the area while they stand
and damage the reef.
Why do you allow any aquarium takini this is not a win-win
situation. It is only a "win" for the money that the aquarium
people make by taking our fish - if you love Hawaii and represent
I lawaii, then you must support the reef and the reef fish. Most of
these fish die after they take them: Many ofthem.,rive dead at the
airport; others die because they are kept in small bags of water,
having had their bladders pierced and their fns cut in orderm ship
large quantities. Most of these fish die within a year; so they are
constantly need to take more from our reefs. ['lease stop aquarium
taking in West Hawaii; protect our reefs: allow the fish to come back
to their previous levels.
Thank vou, Marilyn Nishi
I
Comm, No. alQ
Rot. TO.
Rof, []ate—FFR 2 0 2015