HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.056 2014-2016Leslie, Earlanne
From: Paul [atdarock@gmail.core]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 11:42 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Support for Bill 024
Aloha Chair Wille and committee members,
I support Bill 024. The aquarium collecting business mines our natural resource from the
reef, and contributes very little to Hawaii county, or the State for that mater, in return.
I have observed an aquarium collecting, packing and shipping business for approximately two
years. In the last five years, I have witnessed 13 different individuals collecting in the
water, off shore from the Miloli'i beach lots, South Kona.
1. All collectors, to some degree, damage the reef Corals. with indiscriminate anchoring
practice, and contact with the reef, with themselves and their equipment. Collectors do not
use the normal open water dive equipment such as a buoyancy control vest. They are weighted
only, I assume to help in making contact with the Reef floor while moving nets and storage
tubs. Also to assist while they poke into the finger coral to frighten the fish out of their
natural defense. It seems AQ collectors have a variance on the current Stony Coral
protection laws. So I would like to think of higher permit fee as a kind of punitive price
collectors will pay for this damage.
2. I then observe the daily catch stored and packed for transport, at a house in a
residential zone. A house that I has never seen resided in during the past two years, solely
used commercially. I must assume that if these collectors are violating zoning laws, they
are also not contributing the correct property tax rate.
3. As collectors are on the honor system for the monthly catch report, and shipping
documents are not required to state value. Inaccurate sales receipts could result in
inaccurate excise tax. Receipts as well as payroll contributions need to be audited.
In conclusion. Collectors run on very low overhead as far as paying dues to the people of
Hawaii, where they store and harvest their no limit inventory. The argument of " we will be
run out of business", is not valid, as all businesses must deal with costs and charge
accordingly. If the local collector has to double the price of a Yellow Tang from $4 to $8,
that will require the retailer to raise the price of a Yellow Tang from $50 to $54, an
increase of 8%.
Mahalo,
Paul Cox
Captain Cook, Hi. 96704
Ref. To: �—
Ref. Date