HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

229

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE Department of land and natural resources TO DEVELOP RULES FOR AQUARIUM FISH PERMITTING THAT PROTECT HAWAII'S AQUATIC WILDLIFE AND REEF ENVIRONMENTS.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii's reefs are the world's third-largest source of wildlife for aquarium hobbyists; and

 

     WHEREAS, aquarium collection causes a loss of wildlife that threatens Hawaii's reef environments and the socioeconomic benefits they provide, including benefits to tourism, which is a crucial contributor to the State's economy, and to the sustenance of local families; and

 

     WHEREAS, maintaining herbivorous fish populations and restoring populations in areas where they have declined or been lost are essential for the protection of Hawaii's coral reefs and the current and future socioeconomic well-being of Hawaii's people; and

 

     WHEREAS, the broad consensus in Hawaii supports replenished populations of aquatic life targeted by the aquarium trade; and

 

     WHEREAS, the vast majority of Hawaii residents want restoration and protection of our reefs for current and future generations; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to protect Hawaii's aquatic wildlife and reef environments by developing and adopting rules for aquarium fish permitting that:

(1)  Designate those islands on which aquarium collecting is allowed, and on those islands designate a minimum percentage of coastal waters in which commercial aquarium collection is prohibited;

 

(2)  Establish catch limits by species to allow replenishment and maintenance of aquatic life at ninety percent of unfished levels, with permits being reduced or phased out if not achieved within five years in areas where commercial aquarium collecting is prohibited in less than seventy percent of the coastal waters;

 

(3)  Designate limited-entry areas where an entry quota for only the number of collectors of fish and other aquatic life for aquarium purposes will be established;

 

(4)  Develop certification requirements and other conditions of eligibility for aquarium fish permits, including:

 

(A)  A mortality rate threshold that does not exceed one percent per species upon arrival and within three days of arrival at each step in the chain of custody; and

 

(B)  An environmental assessment, environmental impact statement, and cultural impact assessment prior to issuing or renewing any commercial aquarium collection permit; 

 

(5)  Require monitoring of permit-holders' continuing eligibility for an aquarium fish permit;

 

(6)  Limit the number of aquarium fish permits issued annually;

 

(7)  Establish bag and catch limits for fish and other aquatic life;


(8)  Enhance penalties for noncompliance with applicable laws; and

 

(9)  Establish the means to ensure consistent enforcement of all permit requirements, limits, and conditions for the collection of fish or other aquatic life for aquarium purposes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Interim Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

RULES FOR AQUARIUM FISH PERMITTING THAT PROTECT HAWAII'S AQUATIC WILDLIFE AND REEF ENVIRONMENTS