2014-2015 -- 56% of Big Island Coral Died

[glinda]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kapoho Joe

Would someone please explain to me why we need to import fishermen?

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So their bosses can make more money than if they had to pay reasonable "living" wages to locals. Or, someone else would say, so you can eat reasonably priced fish. But that second line, imo, would probably be covering up the more money to the bosses line. And then there is the 'because no one in Hawaii wants the jobs' line. Which one do you believe?

I think the idea that because we can import someone from a drastically lower economy to do our "dirty" work here at what is locally substandard wages is a no-no when all is said and done. Facing the actual costs of doing business and paying "honest" wages is the first step towards creating a sustainable economy. Otherwise we are heading in the same direction as farming, and other industries, on the mainland that has relied on illegal immigrants. As soon as those immigrants become persona non grata the industry has to adjust anyways. And, given enough pressure, I think that's where Hawaii's fishing industry is heading.

Of course my whole argument falls apart if the fact is no one in Hawaii wants those fishing jobs. Is that the case?