Happy Respect for Fish Day.

August 1 is a day to celebrate and help protect fish.

On August 9 the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources are up to their political tricks again and are considering issuing new collection permits after accepting an environmental impact statement that is scientifically inadequate.

 Provide your support for reef fish, the coral reef in West Hawaii, and the reef sharks that depend on both. Millions of fish that consume the algae that grow on the coral could be again exported to aquariums for Las Vegas casinos, LA mansions, PetCo and hobbyists throughout the mainland. Of these fish collected, around 90% die while caught, transported or within  a year of arriving at their destination.

Despite their claims, the Hawaiian aquarium fishery has not demonstrated sustainable fishing or the state a properly managed fishery. Before the 2019 lawsuit and subsequent closure, millions of Hawaiian marine fish were exported for the aquarium trade.  This is cruel and harms threatened coral reef ecosystems and Hawaiian communities.

Send an email like the one below to the Land Board:

Email address: blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
Subject: Agenda Item Aquarium Fishing
Content: Dear Board, I oppose issuing permits for  Hawaiian reef fish collection by the commercial aquarium fishery, and I support managing resources with best available science provided to the DAR.  Hawaiian reefs, communities rely on these fish and healthy reef ecosystems.  Please disregard any petition by the industry to collect and export Hawaii reef fish.

sincerely, 

Follow our appeal to the Hawaii board and keep fish swimming!

David McGuire, Director

Shark Stewards