Comments on: VIDEO: Councils back new tropical fish harvest regulations

By: Alex Duprey

Alex Duprey — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:40:46 +0000

Perhaps all the local people who feel they have the right to rape the ocean should be educated (or put in prison) about the effects of illegal fishing practices. I have seen reefs in Hawaii abused by local fishermen with gill nets and stabbing tiger sharks on the beach that they have caught with fishing pole

By: Mark Vera

Mark Vera — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:06:19 +0000

It’s about time we start limiting some of these resources. Being a retailer of these fish, I have felt the Yellow Tang in particular has been an under valued species for quite some time. As such this specie in particular has been sold so cheaply that the ornamental industry has been glutted with them, further decreasing their value at the expense of wild populations. Simple responsible limits in the fishery licensing and quota’s should help to make this particular specie more sustainable. A $50 license is ridiculous when you consider that these are business performing commercial fishing. Added revenue can help govern and measure what is sustainable catch.

It is however important that knee jerk reactions not happen and banning take place since people will only protect what they love. So much of he country and world, like myself do not live on tropical coastlines. Ornamental exposure breeds the recognition and importance of these micro environments. Reefs must be protected and aquarist’s must pay the price for the honor to keep these animals. Importers and wholesalers must have do a better job of caring for these animals and provide better environments. Commercial food fishing should be facing similar sanctions as well since they are much more detrimental to the worlds oceans and play a much larger role in degrading them (Blue FIn Tuna).

I hope Hawaii is successful with this program and can share their experiences and knowledge with areas like the Philippines in an effort make more than just U.S. territories more sustainable.

By: Joan (Kim) Thompson

Joan (Kim) Thompson — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:53:41 +0000

Thanks to the West Hawaii Fisheries Council and the Hawaii County Council, our precious Ka’ohe Bay and Pebble Beach may finally receive the protection it deserves. My husband and I fully support this resolution and urge the DLNR to adopt the package of rule ammendments as proposed. Our ocean resources are far too valuable to all who use and observe them to be depleted by a few for their own personal gain.

Mahalo nui loa for your kokua, Joan Kim Thompson