HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0118.068 2014-20160
Feb. 17, 2015
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
—RECEIVED
'Time 1• PN By
Date --7V /,S �—
To: Hawaii County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability
Re: Bill 24 in SUPPORT with Suggested Amendments
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, each working to protect coral reef wildlife from
harmful aquarium trade practices.
Thank you for hearing this bill protecting Hawaii's reef wildlife from harmful aquarium trade
practices. Until the aquarium trade is shut down, this bill is needed to bring compassion to an
industry that too often sacrifices wildlife well-being for increased profits. As stewards of
Hawaii's wildlife and reefs, increasing the captive survivability of marine life captured and sold
as pets is the least we can do.
The following amendments are offered for your consideration:
Section 6._ License Application
(7 ) A statement that neither the applicant nor any person engaged in any aspect of the
aquarium life operation has been eenvieted of any ^f ase ^ will
commit or has committed offenses of the laws of the County or State involving cruelty to
animals, which include prohibitions on starving, causing substantial bodily injury, causin
starving, or carrvin2 or causing to be carried, in or upon anv vehicle or other convevance,
any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.
Section 6. License Fee
(b) An additional license fee of $1,000 shall be paid for each of the following fish Z.
flavescens, C. strigosus, Z. cornutus, F. flavissimus, F. longirostris, G qttadfimaetila4us, any
Chaetodon species, A. achilles, and L. phthirophagus. .
P.O. Box 1894, Kihei, HI 96753
Rene@FortheFishes.org * 808.283.7225
Comm. No. 4 .
Ref. To:IG.SG.-
Ref. Date FE81 7 2015
Industry -reported mortality rates and independent research provides evidence that reef fish in
the pet industry are mistreated. Appropriate capture, holding, and transport would be
indicated by a mortality standard below 1% at each step in the chain of custody. That 1%
threshold was set in a multi-million dollar, multi -stakeholder reform effort and certification
scheme attempted over a decade ago by the Marine Aquarium Council, an international effort
based in Honolulu. That effort ultimately failed, in part from vocal trade opposition that wanted
the death rate set at S%.
Today's mortality rates reflect that. The industry reports deaths generally ranging from 3 — S%
at each step before retail, where it then doubles. For example, Hawaii's trade reported a 3%
loss between the collector and wholesaler in 2012. More were lost in holding and in transport
as they moved from Hawaii to wholesaler to retailer. Applied to Hawaii's 2012 reported catch,
supply chain mortalities likely exceeded 100,000 fish before retail sale. Once in a hobby tank,
80% of the fish deaths there are caused by poor supply chain practices.
Bili 24 would end the cruel practices contributing to that unacceptably high loss. It's one thing
to kill a fish and eat it or use it as bait, but once we take an animal as a pet, we're obligated to
treat it humanely. In fact, HRS requires it of us.
When an industry is shown to profit from premature pet deaths, it's time for lawmakers to step
in. Evidence shows that with better care, fewer fish will die. That also means more fish will be
left on our reefs. I urge you to pass Bill 24.
Sincerely,
Rene Umberger
For the Fishes
P.O. Box 1894, Kihei, HI 96753
Rene@FortheFishes.ore * 808.283.7225
Marine Aquarium Council
Core Handling, Husbandry, and Transport
International Performance Standard for the
Marine Aquarium Trade
Issue 1 — July 1, 2001
Issue 1 - July 1, 2001
Marine Aquarium Council: Core Collection, Fishing, and Holding International Performance Standard
for the Marine Aquarium Trade, Issue 1—July 1. 2001
Core Standard 11: Collection, Fishing, and Holding Certification Requirements
5.5 DOA and DAA Monitoring
5.5.1 DOA and DAA shall be recorded at each stage of the collection process when marine aquarium
organisms are transferred, e.g., from capture to holding container (DOA) or holding container to
transportation vehicle (DAA). All batches with a DOA or DAA level above 1% at the species level shall not
be considered MAC certified.
Core Handling, Husbandry. and Transport International Performance Standard for the Marine
Aquarium Trade, Issue 1— July 1, 2001
1.6.2 Mortality Records
1.6.2.1 DOA and DAA records shall be maintained for all marine organisms.
2 Acclimatization of Marine Aquarium Organisms
2.1.1 DOA at the species level shall be recorded upon receipt of consignment. All consignments with a
DOA level above 1% are no longer considered MAC certified.
2.2.1 DAA at the species level shall be recorded at all stages from acclimatization to dispatch. Each
batch of species with a DAA level above 1% shall no longer be considered MAC certified.
4 Dispatch and Packing of Marine Aquarium Organisms
4.1.4 Dispatch
4.1.4.1 All marine aquarium organisms shall be shipped in containers suitable for the journey to ensure
optimal health. Special regard shall be paid to the temperature conditions and shipping time.
4.1.6 Declared Shipping Time
4.1.6.2 Each organization shall design and implement packing systems that maintain the optimal health
of the marine aquarium organisms and zero DOA under normal circumstances within the declared
shipping time.
The term "DOA" means "Dead On Arrival," i.e., upon receipt and opening of the shipping container at
the beginning of the acclimatization period.
The term "DAA" means "Dead After Arrival," i.e., from acclimatization through the holding period until
the organism is packed for onward shipping.
The term "optimal health" means the condition of well-being for marine aquarium organisms expected
from implementing the MAC standards and Best Practice Guidance in Collection, Fishing and Holding
and in Handling, Husbandry and Transport that does not result in reduced survivability of the organism
or mortality of greater than 1% DOA and 1% DAA.
The term "Unsuitable species" means species that have been determined by the MAC committee on
Unsuitable Species to be inappropriate for the trade in marine ornamentals.
• Among the criteria for determining whether a species was appropriate for the hobby was "the
ability of a species to survive captivity for a considerable portion of its potential life span."
• Between 2005 — 2009 researchers work documenting life spans for yellow tang and kole:
o Yellow tang live at least 41 years
o Kole live at least 18 years