By Stephanie Salazar

Some exciting news for fishery stocks was circulated by the University of Hawaii recently.

Marine ecologists from Hawaii, Oregon and Washington have discovered for the first time that fish stocks can be replenished by tiny fish larvae originating from marine reserves more than 100 miles away.

UH-Hilo Marine Science Professor Jim Beets – who co-authored the study published in the scientific journal PLoS One – said their work should help answer some of the questions about the ability of marine reserves to help rebuild fisheries.

Beets co-authored the research with former UH Hilo Associate Professor Brian Tissot, now with Washington State University in Vancouver.

Conducting genetic and statistical analysis on nearly 1,100 juvenile and adult fish, researchers found evidence that several healthy juvenile fish were spawned from parents up to 114 miles away, including some from protected marine areas.

The university provided this media release with more details:

Marine ecologists from Hawaiʻi, Oregon and Washington have discovered for the first time that fish stocks can be replenished by tiny fish larvae originating from marine reserves more than 100 miles away. Their research, conducted in Hawaiʻi and published in the scientific journal PLoS One, also highlighted the ability of marine reserves to rebuild fishery stocks in areas outside the reserves.

“This study should help answer some of the questions about the ability of marine reserves to help rebuild fisheries,” said University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Marine Science Professor Dr. Jim Beets, who co-authored the research with former UH Hilo Associate Professor Brian Tissot, now with Washington State University in Vancouver. “It should also add scientific precision to the locating of reserves for that purpose, which is just one of many roles that a marine reserve can play.”

The findings were based on the creation of nine marine protected areas along the Big Island’s Kona Coast in 1999 in response to the alarming decline of a tropical fish known as yellow tang, which threatened an important species in the aquarium trade industry. In just 10 years, the newly created marine reserves helped reverse the fortunes of the fishery which had been facing declines.

Researchers were able to confirm the larval fish dispersal using genetic approaches (similar to DNA fingerprinting) and sophisticated statistical analysis developed by Mark Christie, an Oregon State University postdoctoral research associate and the study’s lead author. Following field research in 2006, the scientists performed genetic and statistical analysis on nearly 1,100 juvenile and adult fish, which found evidence that several healthy juvenile fish were spawned from parents up to 114 miles away, including some from protected marine areas.

Scientists already knew that marine reserves will grow larger fish and that some will spillover and leave their specific area. But the Hawaiʻi study breaks new ground by providing the first direct observation that successful marine reserves can potentially sustain fisheries a large distance beyond their borders. Beets believes the significance of the study’s findings go beyond addressing lingering skepticism about marine reserves.

“The identification of connectivity of fishes between distant reefs on the Island of Hawaiʻi demonstrates that human coastal communities are also linked,” Beets said. “So management in one part of the ocean affects people who use another part of the ocean.”

The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi, Oregon State University, Washington State University, National Marine Fisheries Service and Hawaiʻi’s State Department of Land and Natural Resources and funded by Conservation International.

Yellow tang may be limited, fish replenishment area may be swapped

March 19, 2010 – Kona, Hawaii
Video by David Corrigan

Proposals for new regulations on Kona’s tropical fish harvest industry have been given a seal of approval by two important councils on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The West Hawaii Fisheries Council recommended the changes to the Hawaii County Council, who in turn voted to pass a resolution urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt the new rules.

The rule changes are the latest discussion in a long history of debate about regulation in the aquarium fishery, considered to be the most lucrative of the near shore fishing businesses in Hawaii. The latest proposals follow a highly publicised incident in which 600 dead tropical fish, mainly yellow tang, were found discarded in the trash in Kona’s Honokohau Harbor. The photos of the discovery raised the ire of many local residents, who have long felt that thier beloved coastal choral habitat has been in jeopardy.

Bill Walsh of the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources presented the management data to the County Council before the West Hawaii Fisheries Council explained how they arrived at creating the proposals. The Kona based fishery group said that the proposals were extensivly vetted amongst the active tropical aqaurium fish harvesters, and were approved by the local business operators.

The amendments, as listed in the Resolution, are:

1. The implementation of adaptive management of the Fish Replenishment Areas which specifically allows a reef area at Pebble Beach South Kona to be closed to aquarium collecting while opening a similarly sized area at Keauhou for limited collecting by lottery thus maintaining a balanced proportion of opentoclosed fish collection areas

2. The creation of a tropical fish white list specifying which species can be collected for the aquarium trade and a bag limit for large reproductively mature yellow tang and

3. The proposal of Limited Entry regulations for West Hawaii that would ensure participation in fish collection for the aquarium industry requires a high level of skill experience and regulatory compliance by fishers protects the economic value of the reefs and their marine life and provides economic incentive to fishers to promote good stewardship of the reefs

Councilwoman Brenda Ford expressed some concern over the swapping of collecting areas (Pebble Beach for North Keauhou) . She ultimately voted “kanalua” twice, as the rest of the council voted yes to passing the resolution.

Still images and graphics seen in this video are taken from Walsh’s power point presentation.

The wording of the resolution:

RESOLUTION NO 308 10

STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES TO ADOPT RULES RECOMMENDED BY THE WEST HAWAII FISHERIES COUNCIL FOR THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE WEST HAWAII AQUARIUM FISHERY INCLUDING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FISH REPLENISHMENT AREAS ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AQUARIUM FISH SPECIES WHITE LIST AND ALIMITED ENTRY PROGRAM

WHEREAS the marine aquarium fishery in the State of Hiawai is one of the most economically valuable commercial inshore fisheries and the majority of the catch and value comes from West Hawaii and

WHEREAS entry into this lucrative fishery is presently unlimited the required aquarium fish permit is free and a commercial marine license is only 50 per year and

WHEREAS with the notable exception of the West Hawaii network of aquarium protected areas Fish Replenishment Areas other aquarium management regulations are sparse and

WHEREAS as reported in the Division of Aquatic Resource recent Five Year Report to the Legislature

1. Yellow tang populations in the open areas have declined 47 over the past decade

2. Over the same time period of time the number of collectors has increased by 19 and the total catch has increased by 25 and

3. Open areas have less than 30 of the number of yellow tangs as compared to the protected areas and

WHEREAS the recent dumping of over 600 tropical fish mainly yellow tang and reports of ongoing poaching prove that the our marine aquarium fish industry needs better management and protection from irresponsible fishers whether legal permit holders or illegal dealers and

WHEREAS it is believed that this unique and precious resource cannot sustain such growth without ample protection and regulation and

WHEREAS the Hawaii County Council recognizes that there is a need to more effectively manage the West Hawaii aquarium industry through several different management approaches and

WHEREAS the West Hiawai Fisheries Council has recently submitted a number of recommended rule amendments to the Department of Land and Natural Resources which include a variety of management proposals that will protect the tropical fish resource without unduly restricting the tropical fish trade business and

WHEREAS these rule amendments include

1. The implementation of adaptive management of the Fish Replenishment Areas which specifically allows a reef area at Pebble Beach South Kona to be closed to aquarium collecting while opening a similarly sized area at Keauhou for limited collecting by lottery thus maintaining a balanced proportion of opentoclosed fish collection
areas

2. The creation of a tropical fish white list specifying which species can be collected for the aquarium trade and a bag limit for large reproductively mature yellow tang and

3. The proposal of Limited Entry regulations for West Hawaii that would ensure participation in fish collection for the aquarium industry requires a high level of skill experience and regulatory compliance by fishers protects the economic value of the reefs and their marine life and provides economic incentive to fishers to promote good stewardship of the reefs and

WHEREAS the Hawaii County Council believes that while this industry contributes to the economic health of the Island of Hawaii it should not be at the expense of our island resources and other ocean oriented businesses now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it hereby urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources to adopt the package of rule amendments proposed by the West Hawaii Fisheries Council which include Limited Entry regulations adaptive management of Fish Replenishment Areas and a list specifying which tropical fish are allowed for collection and trade