Hawaiian Collection Legislation

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mrcrab

In Memoriam
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB3225_.htm

Aloha all, The Hawaii Legislature is considering to pass a bill that will limit aquarium fish collection in Hawaii to 20 fish per collector per person with a maximum of 5 yellow tangs per day. The bill also will put a no take cap on angels, butterflies, boxfish, puffers,eels and many other species. The passage of this bill will essentially shut down the tropical fish industry in Hawaii which will include the transhipped items from Christmas Island and Marshall Islands. Please forward this to everyone in the industry because if we don't stop this bill, next year, yellow tangs may wholesale at $100 each.


Let's try this :

Regarding Senate Bill 3225 SB3225



Everyone including all businesses, employees, divers, parents, kids, brothers and sisters, friends, and everyone involved in this industry -



JAN. 28-29th FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON, CALL SEN. CLAYTON HEE'S OFFICE AT 808-586-7330 AND WHEN ASKED BY HIS OFFICE STAFF - LEAVE YOUR FULL NAME - ( FIRST AND LAST NAME ), AND PHONE NUMBER, AND VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION TO SB3225. IF WE CAN GET 500+ PHONE CALLS INTO HIS OFFICE, WE CAN SHOW THERE IS VERY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL . IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HE MIGHT SHELVE THIS BILL. WE NEED TO TIE UP HIS PHONE WITH OUR CALLS. THEN TOMORROW NIGHT, FAX SENATOR HEE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL ALSO. ( FAX NUMBER 808-586-7334 ) THIS WAY, WHEN HIS STAFF COMES IN ON TUESDAY MORNING, THERE WILL BE FAXES ALL OVER HIS OFFICE FLOOR.



WE NEED TO OVERWHELM HIM WITH CALLS AND FAXES VOICING OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.


Jovi Z. Macatugal

Sea Dwelling Creatures, Inc.


Report Title:

Fishing; Ornamental Fish; Bag Limits; No Take Category; Appropriation



Description:

Imposes bag limits on certain ornamental fish; prohibits catching of certain ornamental fish; appropriation






THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3225

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008


STATE OF HAWAII










A BILL FOR AN ACT





RELATING TO FISHING.





BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:






SECTION 1. Chapter 188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§188- Ornamental fish; bag limit; prohibition; yellow tang stock assessment. (a) There shall be a combined bag limit of twenty fish per person per day of ornamental fish, including but not limited to, yellow tang, flame angels, and butterfly; provided that the combined bag limit may include a maximum of only five yellow tang. No person shall catch, net, or trap more than the bag limit. The department of land and natural resources shall formulate an annual stock assessment of the yellow tang, beginning September 1, 2008, based upon data existing as of that date to provide an estimated inventory for preservation purposes; provided that the assessment shall be made publicly available.

(b) No person shall catch, net, or trap certain ornamental fish in a no-take category, including but not limited to, all puffer fish, all box fish, potter's angel, cleaner wrasse, all coralvores, and all eels.

(c) For purposes of this section, the term "ornamental fish" means salt water fish, usually found in or around reefs, that are commonly kept in aquariums.

(d) The department of land and natural resources shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for purposes of this section, including adding other types of ornamental fish."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the yellow tang fish stock assessment as provided in section 1 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2008.
 
Actually, this bill looks pretty reasonable, especially in light of the pressures on the yellow tang population. I don't see where it addresses transshipping foreign ornamental fish.
 
I really hope they pass the bill, Petco needlessly kills thousand and thousands every year. Plus have you been snoerkeling/diving lately in Hawaii? not many fish to look at anymore, way way over harvested.
 
It seems that when certain areas are protected, the overall fish population goes up and yields from "unprotected" areas actually go up.

In the mean time, anyone know any good tang breeders?
 
I also feel that anything that can preserve our natural reefs should be implemented, regardless to its effects on the hobby. I hope that at some point in the future we will be able to rely completely on aqua cultured livestock and hopefully that will not be because we have destroyed our natural resources.
 
I haven't read it, but I'm good with the bill. I mean, its not mankind has some kind of history of plundering our natural resources in the name of money, is it? Not protecting nature so we can save some money on yellow tangs seems kinda silly, eh?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11714911#post11714911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirschmann
I also feel that anything that can preserve our natural reefs should be implemented, regardless to its effects on the hobby. I hope that at some point in the future we will be able to rely completely on aqua cultured livestock and hopefully that will not be because we have destroyed our natural resources.


i completely agree. as much as it can effect my ability to get fish and coral.....we need to preserve it.
 
I agree, I hope the bill passes.......I am not in the hobby to hurt the oceans and it's inhabitants. I am in this hobby because I love the ocean and its inhabitants. I would much rather pay more to have a yellow tang in my tank and know that measures have been taken to protect them in the wild.
 
I don't mind paying a higher price if that means that the reef is saved. I hate thinking about the fact my hobby has something to do with the destruction of the ocean
 
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