A perennial battle between aquarium fish collectors and conservationists will be played out in County Council chambers today, as a council committee takes up a measure regulating the transport of fish off-island. Bill 318, sponsored by Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, prohibits the withholding of food for more than 24 hours, requires fish to be transported in a minimum of one gallon of water per fish and prohibits “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently carrying or causing to be carried in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance aquarium life within the County in a manner that is likely to result in the injury or death of the aquarium life.” The bill exempts Native Hawaiians using fish for cultural purposes, government and nonprofits using fish for educational purposes, provided they are not sold, and any fish at county airports in transit that do not leave the airport. Violators would be charged with a petty misdemeanor and subject to fines up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail, or both. Advocates say the measure is needed because too many fish are being taken from Hawaii Island’s reefs for out-of-state aquarium hobbyists and too few survive the trip. “It’s not the same as it used to be,” said Mike Nakachi, son of a retired commercial fisherman and boat captain with Aloha Dive Co. in Kailua-Kona. “There are certainly less fish.” Subscribers follow the link for the full story by WHT reporter Nancy Cook Lauer.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:45:04 +0000
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