Hawaii Fish Ban Update

[ThisIsTheWay]

I do know that. So for just the West coast of the Big Island of Hawaii where most of the yellow tang is harvested, the fishery would land on average, over a 20 year period, 275k fish. There were years where it went as high as 350k and as low as 200k. During this 20 year period the overall yellow tang population increased. For the five years the fishery has been closed, the scientist tasked with monitoring have came to the conclusion that the population dynamics haven’t changed in a way their survey methods can see meaning that whether the fishery is open or closed it has little to no effect on the overall population. This is because the fishery harvest juvenile size class that has massive flux in abundance and most get absorbed and replaced by cohorts and subsequent waves of recruitment. The fishers are there and take from this pool of fish in flux and we never mess with the subadults or adults in any significant numbers. Hope that answers your question

I did read through the rest of this thread, and I understand that the % you remove is still a very small % of the overall population. That being said, if catching all these fish has little to no affect on overall population, does that mean technically more fish are surviving because a lot of the younger fish die, but if you catch them they get to survive and grace our aquariums?
(Hopefully this makes sense)

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

Yes this makes sense and conceptually it is more than likely the case but has yet to be made official through science. What we do know is the fishery targets juvenile fish whose populations are very much in flux. These size classes are not well established on the reef and science has confirmed most are eliminated from depredation and other factors before they can shore up their position. These same fish, once harvested by fishermen, have a very high survival rate from point of capture all the way to export and beyond(Munday study) So I’d agree with your question that by catching these fish they have a real chance at life that most of them statistically would not experience if nature took its course.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

And another way to view this is that by the fishing activity occurring, more fish are actually created overall. In a sense, the fishers are farming the fish on the reef by hacking the natural system. By understanding how it works, we can create more. By us going in and harvesting these recruits, we immediately reset the vacancy which allows subsequent recruitments to come in and land whereas if we don’t harvest a pulse, the subsequent waves are suppressed from landing and are deleted or absorbed by the reef system. What many don’t understand is that when a reef starts to receive drop or recruitments, it has a carrying capacity. The reef will only hold so many fish of so many size classes of so many species. Once that’s reached, these fish become well established and then they will gatekeep their turf with conspecific oppression. They will attack and harangue the smallest arrivals, driving them off the reef or into a predators mouth. If there’s enough real estate available, the established fish will allow a certain amount, but once theres too many, they’ll drive them out. Hobbyists will have noticed this hostile behavior when introducing a new tang in their tank once there are already established fish. Same behavior and they’ll fight to the death.

 

[pasquale petrovia]

Just visited Oahu Went to Haunama bay. Saw koles,Achilles, Yellows, orange shoulders, convicts, mustards, unicorns and nasos. Went to electric beach and saw tons of moorish idols, butterfly fish, lavender, yellow, naso, green and brown bird wrasses, and a few eels. Tried to meet up with Ron Tubbs but missed him this trip. Hopefully I will get back one day.

 

[Reefing102]

So I heard a rumor that permits were set to be issued yesterday and by convenience an LFS is reporting they’re getting in wild Hawaiian yellow tangs today.

Anyone else hear this about the permits?

I tried a quick search but I didn’t see anything posted anywhere.

 

[Macropharyngodon]

So I heard a rumor that permits were set to be issued yesterday and by convenience an LFS is reporting they’re getting in wild Hawaiian yellow tangs today.

Anyone else hear this about the permits?

I tried a quick search but I didn’t see anything posted anywhere.

That seems... Highly unlikely

 

[Reefing102]

My mistake “arriving this week” not today specifically (if the FB screenshot is not allowed, please remove)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m going to check later today from a legislative source

 

[Jasonak]

My mistake “arriving this week” not today specifically (if the FB screenshot is not allowed, please remove)

Thank goodness back to free tangs! and super duper cheap saltwater fish!

Because people are silly I will state that I'm joking. I know It will just be free tangs......

 

[Macropharyngodon]

I just wish the potters leopard Wrasse were white listed.

Thank goodness back to free tangs! and super duper cheap saltwater fish!

Because people are silly I will state that I'm joking. I know It will just be free tangs......

 

[Jasonak]

I just wish the potters leopard Wrasse were white listed.

Just get a plane ticket

 

[Macropharyngodon]

Just get a plane ticket

wait. You can take aquarium fish on planes right? So i could fly in - buy the fish and fly out no?

Or is it more complex than that?

 

[Jasonak]

wait. You can take aquarium fish on planes right? So i could fly in - buy the fish and fly out no?

Or is it more complex than that?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO cant BUY the fish but you can go collect yourself. I believe the species restriction's are just for commercial guys. You would have to reach out to DLNR and make sure you could grab a potters. I know that the west side of the big island is closed to everyone.

 

[Jasonak]

Here is the current rules for off island folk and locals.

Can I collect aquatic life for my personal home aquarium?​

Yes. You may recreationally collect aquatic life for your personal home aquarium. Please be sure to utilize legal gear, follow all other applicable regulations, and obtain the proper license if need be. Additionally, please be aware that any taking of aquarium fish or other aquatic life in the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area , opens in a new tab is prohibited.

Can I transport the aquatic life I collect for my personal home aquarium out of state?​

Yes, although you should check with the appropriate agency in your home state for any restrictions on the kinds of animals they will allow to be imported. Many states have alien species concerns, which may include microscopic organisms, pathogens, or parasites in the water or on the fish. You should also check with your airline to find out their requirements and recommendations for shipping live fish.

Do I need a license or permit to collect aquatic life for my personal home aquarium?​

There is no license or permit requirement for Hawai‘i residents. Nonresidents will need to obtain a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License. Outside of that you may collect aquatic life for your home aquarium without a license or permit, provided you use legal gear and methods. Small mesh throw nets are always prohibited. Regulations such as minimum size, season, bag limits, etc., still apply. Please be aware that any taking of aquarium fish or other aquatic life in the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area , opens in a new tab is prohibited.

What type of gear can I use to catch aquarium fish?​

Nets – The most common gear to collect aquarium fish is a hand net or scoop net. Generally, the use of nets with a stretched mesh of less than 2 inches is prohibited. However, you are allowed to use a fine meshed “hand (scoop) net” to take aquatic life for non-commercial purposes, provided it does not exceed three feet in any dimension (including the handle).

Other gear – Other legal gear and methods include hand harvest, slurp gun, and hook-and-line. Please visit our gear restrictions page , opens in a new tabfor more information.

Can I collect aquatic life for aquariums to sell commercially?​

No. Please bookmark the following link for news on the Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Commercial Fishing , opens in a new tab.

 

[Macropharyngodon]

Here is the current rules for off island folk.

Can I collect aquatic life for my personal home aquarium?​

Yes. You may recreationally collect aquatic life for your personal home aquarium. Please be sure to utilize legal gear, follow all other applicable regulations, and obtain the proper license if need be. Additionally, please be aware that any taking of aquarium fish or other aquatic life in the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area , opens in a new tab is prohibited.

Can I transport the aquatic life I collect for my personal home aquarium out of state?​

Yes, although you should check with the appropriate agency in your home state for any restrictions on the kinds of animals they will allow to be imported. Many states have alien species concerns, which may include microscopic organisms, pathogens, or parasites in the water or on the fish. You should also check with your airline to find out their requirements and recommendations for shipping live fish.

Do I need a license or permit to collect aquatic life for my personal home aquarium?​

There is no license or permit requirement for Hawai‘i residents. Nonresidents will need to obtain a Nonresident Recreational Marine Fishing License. Outside of that you may collect aquatic life for your home aquarium without a license or permit, provided you use legal gear and methods. Small mesh throw nets are always prohibited. Regulations such as minimum size, season, bag limits, etc., still apply. Please be aware that any taking of aquarium fish or other aquatic life in the West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area , opens in a new tab is prohibited.

What type of gear can I use to catch aquarium fish?​

Nets – The most common gear to collect aquarium fish is a hand net or scoop net. Generally, the use of nets with a stretched mesh of less than 2 inches is prohibited. However, you are allowed to use a fine meshed “hand (scoop) net” to take aquatic life for non-commercial purposes, provided it does not exceed three feet in any dimension (including the handle).

Other gear – Other legal gear and methods include hand harvest, slurp gun, and hook-and-line. Please visit our gear restrictions page , opens in a new tabfor more information.

Can I collect aquatic life for aquariums to sell commercially?​

No. Please bookmark the following link for news on the Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Commercial Fishing , opens in a new tab.

Wow, that changes things significantly.
Thanks for the information!

 

[Macropharyngodon]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO cant BUY the fish but you can go collect yourself. I believe the species restriction's are just for commercial guys. You would have to reach out to DLNR and make sure you could grab a potters. I know that the west side of the big island is closed to everyone.

Collecting potters I imagine would be a bit of an undertaking though. Ill have to make a plan for if I get the opportunity.

 

[Jasonak]

Its been that way for awhile, I was surprised. I had a aquarium collectors permit yeeears ago and when the ban came into effect it was no longer valid. Someone told me a few months ago that it was legal to collect for your tank again and I looked it up and sure enough it was open to personal use again.
But yeah catching a potters thats gonna be a hard one lol

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

All the bans have been lifted for a while. Permits were also being issues, The only thing last they were waiting on was, what fish can be collected and how much can be collected. So its almost there and I predict sometime in Feb or March it should all be open.

 

[Macropharyngodon]

Its been that way for awhile, I was surprised. I had a aquarium collectors permit yeeears ago and when the ban came into effect it was no longer valid. Someone told me a few months ago that it was legal to collect for your tank again and I looked it up and sure enough it was open to personal use again.
But yeah catching a potters thats gonna be a hard one lol

Yeah. They are small and sort of deep dwellers (relatively). It's kind of a lot of hoops to jump through but it's worth it I think.

 

[Macropharyngodon]

All the bans have been lifted for a while. Permits were also being issues, The only thing last they were waiting on was, what fish can be collected and how much can be collected. So its almost there and I predict sometime in Feb or March it should all be open.

That's exciting. Seems like the Greenpeace organizations in hawaii are fighting pretty hard though?