Aloha,

Thank you for supporting the petition to eliminate reef fish for collection by the aquarium trade for export in Hawai'i. 

Yesterday the Hawai'i Board of Land and Natural Resources again heard a petition to eliminate reef fish collection by the aquarium trade.

After extensive testimony by Hawaiians, scientists and NGOS overwhelmingly in support of this ban, the Board approved the petition but deferred it to the Department of Aquatic Resources to consider the comments and documents for rulemaking. This decision may give DAR the latitude to approve fish collection based on the available information.

As part time residents of Kona, Shark Stewards joins our colleagues Friends of the Fishes, Hawaiian plaintiffs and the Kalanihale Foundation and we will be scrutinizing the DAR ruling and continuing to make comments in support of a total ban aquarium fish collection.

The Agenda item D3 can be watched here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4xDtBo3ywU