Reef fish collection drops following court ruling
HONOLULU — The number of Hawaii reef fish caught by fishermen with commercial marine licenses for the aquarium trade has fallen by about 80 percent since a state court ruling slowed the industry and stopped the use of fine mesh nets last year.
Licensed fisherman caught nearly 43,500 reef fish in September and about 34,000 in October, but the numbers dropped following the court battles between fish advocates and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The numbers fell to about 11,800 in November following the late October court ruling. The catch numbers then dropped to about 6,700 by June.
For Coral Fish Hawaii, which sells fish and aquariums on Oahu, sales are down at least 50 percent and many fish tanks are empty or sparse. Owner Randy Fernley, who dives once a week to collect reef fish, said it has been more difficult without the use of fine mesh nets.
“There’s no problem with the resource, and there’s very few people doing it,” Fernley said.
In June 2017, 38 licensed fishermen reported catching reef fish, according to the state Division of Aquatic Resources
A 30-day public comment period begins today for an environmental impact statement about the future of reef fish collecting. A draft environmental assessment was released in April.
Rene Umberger, founder and executive director of For the Fishes, and other advocates slowed commercial aquarium fish collecting after courts agreed with their claim that the impact of the aquarium trade was not properly documented.
Umberger disputes the catch numbers reported to the department. She thinks outlaw reef fish collectors continue to use fine mesh nets to supply the aquarium trade on the mainland.
Students in Japan for Hiroshima anniversary
HONOLULU — Students from Hawaii gathered with students in Japan at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima to remember the atomic bombings and promote peace.
Two students each from Punahou School and Farrington High School in Honolulu traveled to Japan as peace scholars for the anniversary of the Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. bombing of Hiroshima.
The Hiroshima Peace Scholars program entered its 10th year and selected two public school students for the first time in addition to the Punahou students.
The four students plus a teacher traveled to a sister school in Hiroshima to forge links for peace with other students.
The students stay with Japanese families, speak with survivors and attended the memorial.