Don't take my opinion as fact, anything can happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by nanoreef1
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Don't take my opinion as fact, anything can happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by nanoreef1
Ill be keeping an eye on this for sure. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by rudy
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Jeff,
Could SDMAS issue a public comment on this, on the members behalf?
Maybe we could all "Sign" whatever SDMAS writes up. Maybe we could find a member that is a good writer, to help pen the document.
Thanks Mason for passing on that link.
Sorry for the delayed response. I have been drafting a comment to submit on the 4D ruling. This comment will be based on my opinion and interpretation of the available data.
Jeff Saurwein
SDMAS President
SDReefs Moderator
You are the MAN Jeff.
Would it help if we all did one or both of the following:
1. "Sign" your submittal
2. Submit a copy of your submittal ourselves
No. Duplicate copies will not be admitted. It's best to write your own and include as much data as possible. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, it's best to let those who do.
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Any chance you could point us to the data and maybe a template so I, and maybe others could write our own?
Agreed with Adrian. Point us in the right direction. I am a complete dip**** and cant make heads or tails about my day.......... although I am into this cause. I defiantly wont have a educated paper to propose but love this hobby and would hate to see it gone.
Legislation Would End the Aquarium Trade in Hawaii
http://cqrcengage.com/pijac/app/writ...gementId=78081
Thank you Torpedo for sharing that link.
This is what I submitted (I am no writer, but if enough of us write, somebody might listen to the facts).
=========
Dear Representative,
Please consider the impact of passing the following bills would have, not only on the folks currently employed in the trade, but also all the hobbyists who love their fish.
HB 606
HB 873
HB 883
Please listen to the science and professionals, including Hawaii's own DLNR, to get a clear understanding of the truly small impact the aquarium trade have on fish.
Claims such as ones stating that the Yellow Tang is disappearing, are false. In fact its abundance over the entire West Hawaii coast has increased by over 1.3 million fish (up 58%) from 1999 to 2013. The current population across all areas is estimated to be 3.6 million fish.
False claims such as the one above are abundantly stated by the opposition, please inform yourself on the facts before voting.
Thank you and please vote responsibly.
Some great talking points provided by PIJAC:
Every responsible scientific study, and even Hawaii’s own DLNR, say that the management practices currently in place have resulted in an increase in Hawaii’s fish population over the last 15 years. Of all the things that affect the health of the reef and its inhabitants, fishing for the aquarium trade has the lowest impact. Tourism, while essential to the Hawaiian economy, has a far greater impact than aquarium fishing does. To see tourism businesses like diving guides complain about the aquarium trade is opportunistic and hypocritical. They are seeking to use the legislature to gain a business advantage, not protect Hawaii.
A moratorium is a ban. The idea that the state of Hawaii would kill an entire industry and shut down Hawaiian businesses that have been responsibly operating for decades is unfathomable. The idea that this legislation offers job retraining for people who have built business over generations closed despite the proven fact that it was doing no harm to the environment is, frankly, dismissive of all the effort and risk that it took to build the business.
The steps that are taken in preparing fish for transportation are done for the safety and survivability of the fish. If withholding food keeps them from swimming in their own waste, then why would anyone object. Requiring one gallon of water per fish is completely arbitrary. Those of us who transport fish for a living know how to do so safely and effectively, our livelihood relies on it. We stay in business by delivering live, healthy fish and these proposals will make it much more difficult to do so.
Hawaii’s aquarium trade is considered to be one of, if not the best regulated near-shore fishery in the world. DLNR found that the West Hawaii “no-aquarium collecting Fish Replenishment Areas (FRAs), implemented in 1999, have been very successful in increasing populations of Yellow Tang which is the most heavily targeted aquarium fish accounting for 84% of the total catch. Despite claims that the Yellow Tang is disappearing, its abundance over the entire West Hawaii coast has increased by over 1.3 million fish (up 58%) from 1999 to 2013. The current population across all areas is estimated to be 3.6 million fish.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) submits a report to the legislature every five years relating to the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area. The 2015 Report finds that the “The Hawaii marine aquarium fishery is currently the most economically valuable commercial inshore fishery in the State with FY 2014 reported landings greater than $2.3 million.”
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the DLNR Aquarium ‘White List’ for West Hawaii of 40 species permitted for the aquarium trade are working. Fish not on the list cannot be collected for the aquarium trade. In fact, the DLNLR, based upon the effectiveness of the West Hawaii FRAs for aquarium fish, recommends that it establish MPAs for non-aquarium fish species.
We all want a vibrant, sustainable and diverse reef. Science, history and common sense all confirm that these things can be accomplished without draconian bans or restrictions. The people arguing for these restrictions are those who believe that to keep fish in a tank is immoral. They are a noisy but miniscule fringe element, and deserve to be treated as such.
The proof that HB 873 is unnecessary is evidenced by the fact that it is justified under false pretenses. The very first line is easily proven to be patently false. It claims that legislation is needed because “The United States Coral Reef Task Force has reported that severe over-harvesting of coral by the aquarium industry occurs in Hawaii.” In reality, there is no harvesting of coral by the aquarium industry in Hawaii and there no evidence that the United States Coral Reef Task Force ever made any such statement.
The comment deadline is 8 a.m. HST on Tuesday, February 10th. Edits have been made below to reflect this.
http://cqrcengage.com/pijac/app/writ...gementId=78081
Click on the link that torpedo posted above. post your comments before 10am pst
https://www.facebook.com/goodcatchbl...08888735849876
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This isn't over yet. They've duplicated the bills to go before the Hawaii Council. The hearing is Tuesday.
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