HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0107.105 2016-2018 Murashige, Laura
From: Douglas McCauley <douglas.mccauley@ucsb.edu> COUNTY CLERK
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2017 3:57 PM COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
To: Council Testimony ��' DECEIVED
Time
Subject: Hawaii Bill 13 Testimony '___otet. By
. .
Attachments: Kona_Bill 13_McCauley_Testimony.docx Date 2 2R7
Dear Council Members,
,Thank you for your willingness to review my testimony. I am a Professor of Marine Biology at UC
Santa Barbara. I have been studying ocean ecosystems for over 10 years, largely in the Pacific,
including in areas around Hawai'i. I am writing in strong support of Bill 13, the bill to ban polystyrene
food containers in Hawai'i County. Plastic pollution, including EPS, is entering the oceans at an
alarming rate and affecting ocean health. I have had the unfortunate ability to observe this occur in
the sites where I conduct my research. I draw your attention to three important points regarding the
negative impacts of EPS and plastic pollution in Hawaii's water:
• Plastic is known to negatively impact some of Hawaii's most charismatic, economically
valuable, and ecologically important marine animals: sea turtle, manta rays, seabird, and fish.
Scientists project that EPS and other plastics will be found in 99% of seabirds by 2050
(Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences 2015).
• Ocean species are harmed by ingested plastic pollution causing mechanical blockages [e.g.,
gastrointestinal obstruction in seabirds] and chemical poisoning. Deleterious chemical effects
are caused because fragments of this pollution can contain contaminants added during plastic
manufacture or acquired from seawater through absorption processes.
• Research is continuing to highlight plastic pollution entering into marine food chains and
human seafood systems. This includes both the EPS/plastic fragments themselves and the
chemical toxins they have absorbed. This affects a range of species including a number of
iconic seafood species in Hawaii, such as mahi-mahi.
Thank you for taking this positive step forward not only for the present-day ocean and human health,
but for future generations. I am pleased that your council is cognizant and reactive to the important
linkages between human health and ocean health.
Regards,
Dr. Douglas McCauley l% S
COMM Nod
Ref. To:
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA4'S�_ _7,,r,\.
BERKELEY DAVIS IRVINE LOS ANGELES MERCED RIVERSIDE SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO
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N \\__Q�.`r SANTA BARBARA SANTA CRUZ
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DOUGLAS J.MCCAULEY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY,EVOLUTION,AND MARINE BIOLOGY
17 Feb 2017
Dear Council Members,
Thank you for your willingness to review my testimony. I am a Professor of Marine Biology at UC Santa
Barbara. I have been studying ocean ecosystems for over 10 years, largely in the Pacific, including in
areas around Hawai'i. I am writing in strong support of Bill 13,the bill to ban polystyrene food
containers in Hawai'i County. Plastic pollution, including EPS, is entering the oceans at an alarming rate
and affecting ocean health.I have had the unfortunate ability to observe this occur in the sites where I
conduct my research. I draw your attention to three important points regarding the negative impacts of
EPS and plastic pollution in Hawaii's water:
• Plastic is known to negatively impact some of Hawaii's most charismatic, economically valuable,
and ecologically important marine animals: sea turtle,manta rays, seabird, and fish. Scientists
project that EPS and other plastics will be found in 99% of seabirds by 2050(Proceedings from
the National Academy of Sciences 2015).
• Ocean species are harmed by ingested plastic pollution causing mechanical blockages [e.g.,
gastrointestinal obstruction in seabirds] and chemical poisoning. Deleterious chemical effects are
caused because fragments of this pollution can contain contaminants added during plastic
manufacture or acquired from seawater through absorption processes.
• Research is continuing to highlight plastic pollution entering into marine food chains and human
seafood systems. This includes both the EPS/plastic fragments themselves and the chemical
toxins they have absorbed.This affects a range of species including a number of iconic seafood
species in Hawaii, such as mahi-mahi.
Thank you for taking this positive step forward not only for the present-day ocean and human health,but
for future generations. I am pleased that your council is cognizant and reactive to the important linkages
between human health and ocean health.
Regards,
4e i
I ..
A 4 1 1 - -
I' i
Dr.Douglas McCauley