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Doh, Cat! I didn't put it together until you said the name again...this was written by THAT Cody.
Honestly, I have to say that it does change my thinking significantly. It seems that what he is saying (and what I've been saying) are closer than I realized. He's not saying "no restrictions" (I do favor restrictions), what's he's saying is "study the issue and create intelligent scientifically-based restrictions that better preserve the reefs and don't arbitrarily single out species that may or may not be in danger."
And yes, sometimes I can be a little slow.
John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
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Aloha people! Hey John tell me about Moorish Idols (which I LOVE, LOVE)...you say it's a given they die in captivity? And the Tangs are sensitive as well?
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com
"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2
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Professional aquariums can keep Moorish Idols alive in captivity -- is just takes a level of skill that is beyond the home aquarium owner. Even places like the Mokupapapa (the place on Bayfront) has trouble keeping their Moorish Idols healthy (or so I've heard) and they know what they are doing.
Tangs can be challenging. I've kept some Yellow Tangs alive for long periods of time , at least until the Achilles' Tang started harassing them. You have to have several for them to be happy. They want to school. My Blue-Green Tang and my Achilles' Tang, I've had for a very long time and they are doing fine.
All saltwater fish are a challenge in an aquarium and we do need to find better ways of responsibly capturing them (and only capture those with a good chance of long-term survival).
John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
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Hypothetical situation;
Say a person is very, very akamai concerning marine aquariums. If this person is gathering fish from the wild, isn't he promoting that activity to people who aren't necessarily so gifted?
Some might say he's "giving value" to wild marine animals.
If a yellow tang caught and maintained professionally is worth x dollars, it seems someone in a third world country is more likely to use unethical methods to capture and ship specimens for less.
I would be in favor of anything that encourages the use of "farm raised" animals in marine aquariums, and snorkling to see the rest.
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Received this email today forwarded, orginally from DAR.
Please see the following statement from DAR Aquatic Biologist Dr. Bill Walsh. A hearing on this bill will be held in Honolulu at 2:30pm on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th, so quick action is necessary!
Could use a little help on the aquarium killer bill. DAR (Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources) is opposed to it and has submitted proposed testimony to the Governor's office which would transform the bill into something quite useful. Basically the amended bill
would maintain the present management approach in West Hawaii, provide a legislative mandate for the things we've been working on here (Limited Entry & Species of Special Concern) and expand the West Hawaii management model to Maui and Oahu. Collectors on these island would be intimately involved with the establishment of FRAs and the listing of species of special concern. The DAR proposals also build upon the concept of MPAs as a viable management tool.
Concerned parties need to contact Linda Smith at the Governor's office, Laura Thielen at DLNR and Andy Smith, the Governor's West Hawaii Liaison, and express to them that they should fully support the West Hawaii model as implemented by DAR, would advocate its expansion statewide, and consider it to be a sustainable, business-friendly alternative to what is currently being proposed in SB3225. Key concepts for DAR's approach are support for (i.e. business friendly) and sustainability of the fishery and science-based management. Contact needs to be made as soon as possible as there is a hearing on the bill this coming Monday afternoon.
We need to have the Governor's office recognize that this is the way to go. If the bill stays as is and passes it will be the end of the commercial aquarium industry here in Hawaii. If it dies as is, then the originators (Snorkel Bob, etc.) will regroup and come back next year better organized and wielding more influence on key legislators. They'll conduct an overblown and falsehood-based publicity campaign and sooner or later using the mantra of poor/nonexistent aquarium management they'll get their bill passed.
The bag limits in the bill are just a veiled attempt to shut down the fishery rather than actually manage it. They're too low to support a
economically viable fishery. The aquarium fishery is the most commercially valuable ($) non-pelagic fishery in the state and shutting it down, because someone thinks it should be, is not sufficient reason to do so. Aquarium bag limits in general also aren't really feasible at this time, both because we don't have enough scientific knowledge to be able to set meaningful limits and even more importantly because they're sooooooooooo enforcement intensive. Somebody would have to continually check up on the collectors to see if they're abiding by any bag limits. We all know the difficulty of having that happen. Bag limits may look good on paper but they'll be basically meaningless in the real world and would only encourage misreporting and cheating.
So it would be in your best interest and the interest of the fishery if you would you contact the Governor's office her liaison to let them know that you, as an aquarium fisher, are in favor of the proposed DAR amendments which will actually manage the fishery rather than effectively closing it. These amendments need to replace the current provisions of SB3225.
Please send this message on to others who you think would be of assistance. Here's the contact info:
Gov. Chief Policy Advisor - Linda Smith: Linda.Smith@hawaii.gov
808-586-0034
DLNR Director- Laura Thielen - dlnr@hawaii.gov 808-587-0390
Gov Liaison - Andy Smith: konagov@hawaii.gov 808-327-4953
Let me know if you have any questions.
Aloha,
Bill Walsh
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quote:
...If a yellow tang caught and maintained professionally is worth x dollars, it seems someone in a third world country is more likely to use unethical methods to capture and ship specimens for less....
That is exactly the issue!
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quote:
Restricts collection of specific species without evidence or necessary research, which undercuts state initiatives to manage coastal resources based on the best scientific information available.
That sounds like something W would say. “Lets do nothing while we wait for more research.” or words to that effect.
quote:
Question: How will that affect bans on importing in other countries when we can even get everyone to agree on gloabl warming issues?
Wow, we could actually take the lead for a change!
quote:
The bag limits in the bill are just a veiled attempt to shut down the fishery rather than actually manage it. They're too low to support a
economically viable fishery.
Perhaps it's unrealistic to think our reefs can support such an industry and stay healthy.
quote:
Aquarium bag limits in general also aren't really feasible at this time, both because we don't have enough scientific knowledge to be able to set meaningful limits and even more importantly because they're sooooooooooo enforcement intensive. Somebody would have to continually check up on the collectors to see if they're abiding by any bag limits. We all know the difficulty of having that happen. Bag limits may look good on paper but they'll be basically meaningless in the real world and would only encourage misreporting and cheating.
I agree. A ban on fish, other than those certified as farm raised, is the solution.
quote:
...If a yellow tang caught and maintained professionally is worth x dollars, it seems someone in a third world country is more likely to use unethical methods to capture and ship specimens for less....
Yep, that's why the ban on those not certified as farm raised. I would bet Chuuk could set up some great farms and they sure could use the employment.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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I agree and have said before, I prefer captive-raised fish over wild-caught. Greg's issue raises a valid point -- if an aquarium owner captures for their own tank, does it make for a bad example.
To an extent, yes. However, having been through the process of being licensed to capture for my own aquarium, I know there are strict limits. To be licensed by the state for commercial capture and sale is entirely different. The sad thing is that my reading of the laws put me (as one guy capturing for my personal 2 aquariums) under stricter limits than the commercial people capturing for sale.
If me walking away with two 3-inch fish, live and healthy and no money changing hands, leads someone else to think that "wow, I should go catch a couple hundred of those and make some bucks!", well that person has issues unrelated to me. Now, if me walking away with a couple fish leads someone to say "wow, I should catch 5 or 6, learn how to breed them and then have a lifetime supply of fish I can sell and I'll only have to capture a few a year to help keep the genetics fresh!" -- well, I'll applaud that person and do all I can to help them succeed.
It's like saying "that person cut down a tree and sold the lumber, so I'm going to take out this entire forest!"
John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
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