Hawaii is the 3rd largest supplier of reef wildlife for U.S. saltwater aquariums. Every year around 25 million of reef animals are collected on Hawaii reefs and shipped out for sale in the mainland aquarium hobby trade. 98% of aquarium fish are wild caught. Many of these fish die as they are caught in nets, transferred and transported to aquarists and pet shops in the mainland US. It is estimated that 90% of these fish die within one year of capture.

Fish harvesters are stripping reefs of important grazers that keep coral reefs healthy and  support larger fish and the balance of marine ecosystems. Kona dive tourism brings in millions of more jobs and tax revenues than reef extraction. The state of Hawai'i recently passed legislation to protect sharks (Manō), yet disregard the fish and reefs the sharks need to survive, Divers want to see healthy reefs with abundant fish, including the sharks that rely on lower trophic levels to survive, and they will support a sustainable dive tourism economy while protecting the reef ecology.

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources Management, (DLNR) through a political punt, has de facto approved an Environmental Assessment report submitted by the mainland corporate pet lobby to continue collecting fish in the Western Hawai'i Reef Management Area along the Kona coast. This EA lacks adequate baseline data and regurgitates a flawed study that has been previously rejected by the DLNR. Using nets, sticks and other methods, these collectors are harming the reef itself as well as altering the balance among species on the reefs, all for entertainment.

With local Hawaiian leaders, the undersigned call upon the State DLNR to reject any newly proposed permits and phase out all existing collection permits in the West Hawaii Regional Fisheries Management Area of Kona.