Hawaii Fish Ban Update

[BloopFish]

There is zero tracking or oversight outside the state of Hawaii. You can legally leave the state with the fish you collected. Once outside the state, their jurisdiction ends and you can legally dispose of the fish as you wish....but that is not in the spirit of the original statute, so it is gaming the system.....

Enforcement is indeed difficult... However, I think it actually becomes a federal matter once state lines are crossed. That's why there is the Lacey Act, otherwise it'd be extremely easy for people to get away with trafficking.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Enforcement is indeed difficult... However, I think it actually becomes a federal matter once state lines are crossed. That's why there is the Lacey Act, otherwise it'd be extremely easy for people to get away with trafficking.

The trouble is, there is zero enforcement of the Lacey Act unless the shipment travels internationally:

The Lacey Act, as amended in 1981 and 2008, prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States.

 

[twentyleagues]

The trouble is, there is zero enforcement of the Lacey Act unless the shipment travels internationally:

The Lacey Act, as amended in 1981 and 2008, prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States.

I guess technically they would not really be breaking any laws so the lacey act wouldnt really come into play anyway as long as you are following catch regulations plus the fact its mostly internationally minded.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

Enforcement is indeed difficult... However, I think it actually becomes a federal matter once state lines are crossed. That's why there is the Lacey Act, otherwise it'd be extremely easy for people to get away with trafficking.

That’s exactly correct. It will be viewed by the Feds that are closely monitoring this as a Lacey Act violation and even if you may be correct, would you want to roll the dice with the Feds and test that in court?

Aside from that, it’s frowned upon by the fishers/locals here. We can’t even take the fish but you come here and take them? And then people are exploiting and earning money when we had our businesses shuddered and our way of life stripped away? Furthermore we have completed the court order and should already be fishing, and we will be soon but in the meantime we are not even allowed to do what we do and we live here. Maybe people don’t think that’s a thing but I would warn you that it is

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

And take it from an expert collector, using rec gear and having the equipment/boat/facility and know how to get out to where yku need to be to even catch the fish is not what I describe within reach for novices.walking tide pools is one thing, getting out to the reefs and using the gear that’s allowed, decompressing/handling the fish and getting them back is much harder than an amateur realizes. But if people want to go to that trouble, just be aware of all this. Take my word for it or don’t.

 

[BloopFish]

I guess technically they would not really be breaking any laws so the lacey act wouldnt really come into play anyway as long as you are following catch regulations plus the fact its mostly internationally minded.

Tell that to the last guy who got prosecuted by the state and was investigated by the federal government for doing this...

 

[avm]

And take it from an expert collector, using rec gear and having the equipment/boat/facility and know how to get out to where yku need to be to even catch the fish is not what I describe within reach for novices.walking tide pools is one thing, getting out to the reefs and using the gear that’s allowed, decompressing/handling the fish and getting them back is much harder than an amateur realizes. But if people want to go to that trouble, just be aware of all this. Take my word for it or don’t.

And take it from an expert collector, using rec gear and having the equipment/boat/facility and know how to get out to where yku need to be to even catch the fish is not what I describe within reach for novices.walking tide pools is one thing, getting out to the reefs and using the gear that’s allowed, decompressing/handling the fish and getting them back is much harder than an amateur realizes. But if people want to go to that trouble, just be aware of all this. Take my word for it or don’t.

Hello,

Is there any chance of getting anampses chrysocephalus, Geoffroyi wrasse or jordani wrasse ?

 

[Tony Thompson]

For those wishing to be updated on the process I have posted the following links.

PUBLIC HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION(S)

Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Online via Zoom (register at: https://tinyurl.com/AQPublicHearing)

Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Kealakehe High School Cafeteria (IN PERSON ONLY)
  74-5000 Puohulihuli Street
  Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740

For those wising to read the "current" proposals, future and past public consultation and the past revisions, all of the information can be found here:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/rules-and-public-notices/

 

[Freenow54]

Here is another obvious way to look at things . It is quite possible and very likely that the people heading this " hearing " already have their minds made up and this is just a dog and pony show . It is the way things are done in a so called democratic country . Let people think that their opinion matters . I am hopeful that those people have morals regarding bribery because I feel we would be very Naive to think it hasn't been tried yet. The so called indigenous people here were given the power to do it in the open . They are now claiming land as theirs where people live in BC , and the courts backed them with no regard towards the residents which I am sure would not have happened had they had vested interest in it , or any of their friends

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is another obvious way to look at things . It is quite possible and very likely that the people heading this " hearing " already have their minds made up and this is just a dog and pony show . It is the way things are done in a so called democratic country . Let people think that their opinion matters . I am hopeful that those people have morals regarding bribery because I feel we would be very Naive to think it hasn't been tried yet. The so called indigenous people here were given the power to do it in the open . They are now claiming land as theirs where people live in BC , and the courts backed them with no regard towards the residents which I am sure would not have happened had they had vested interest in it , or any of their friends

This is why I have not yet posted updates. Isaw this previously and times and dates do change as they have in the past. This is a very slow train running

 

[ryshark]

This is why I have not yet posted updates. Isaw this previously and times and dates do change as they have in the past. This is a very slow train running

What’s the goal of the meeting this month? Could it be possible they make their mind up one way or the other?

 

[Freenow54]

US Steel

 

[vetteguy53081]

What’s the goal of the meeting this month? Could it be possible they make their mind up one way or the other?

To initiate, (not issuing) rules, quotas and licensing

 

[ryshark]

For those wishing to be updated on the process I have posted the following links.

PUBLIC HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION(S)

Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Online via Zoom (register at: https://tinyurl.com/AQPublicHearing)

Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Kealakehe High School Cafeteria (IN PERSON ONLY)
  74-5000 Puohulihuli Street
  Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740

For those wising to read the "current" proposals, future and past public consultation and the past revisions, all of the information can be found here:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/rules-and-public-notices/

How did these hearings go?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not well as anticipated. public hearings were held last week on proposed rules to regulate the aquarium fishery. There were Lots of testimony for and against the Collection which remains closed until further notice. I anticipate a lengthy process moving forward.

 

[Freenow54]

Dog and Pony

 

[Freenow54]

So where was Biota in all of this ?

 

[albano]

Not well as anticipated. public hearings were held last week on proposed rules to regulate the aquarium fishery. There were Lots of testimony for and against the Collection which remains closed until further notice. I anticipate a lengthy process moving forward.

IMO, if (ever) collection is again allowed, with the low catch limits, wild caught prices will be much higher than previously…
might make Biota look cheap! …although they will certainly also
raise their prices , especially on their CB fish that can’t be collected!

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Id bet fish from hawaii may be even more expensive if they do come back than the alternatives we’ve had. 100% wont be the same price as before the ban

You’d have to be criminally naive to expect any other… Inflation has occurred everywhere else, and then there will be the rarity and novelty value. At the end of the day, things are worth what people will pay, and those that won’t pay won’t get (unfortunately won’t stop their entitled whining though!)

 

[vetteguy53081]

So where was Biota in all of this ?

There is no evidence at least at this time Biota is involved in opposition but protecting their assets would not be a surprise