Is Hawaii open for fish collection yet?

[Flame2hawk]

Getting different answers as to whether Hawaii is open. Anyone know the facts?

 

[JayM]

Getting different answers as to whether Hawaii is open. Anyone know the facts?

It’s technically open, but no collection permits have been issued as of yet. I wanna say there’s another meeting in April that pertains to permitting, but I may be thinking of something else.

 

[Flame2hawk]

HB2101 would Prohibit the capture and sale of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes, regardless of the method of collection. Apparently hearings are being held and different interested parties are either testifying or submitting written opinions. Just read one from Biota. Is anyone else following or have any updates?

 

[The Ugly Phase]

Would love myself a GDM not sure how it would do with a royal gramma though

 

[Spartan76]

I saw an article that a lot of the fish populations in Hawaii have not recovered despite the collection ban, specifically yellow tangs but others as well. I wonder if the government might consider placing a large order from a captive breeder to re-establish some pockets of breeding populations?

 

[albano]

I saw an article that a lot of the fish populations in Hawaii have not recovered despite the collection ban, specifically yellow tangs but others as well. I wonder if the government might consider placing a large order from a captive breeder to re-establish some pockets of breeding populations?

Was the article written by Biota?




I don’t believe that article

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

I’ve heard “Hawaii is back!” so many times over the years that I mostly stopped paying attention. Every time it sounds promising, another roadblock shows up.

I’m just reading the tea leaves here, but my guess is it stays closed. And even if it does reopen at some point, I would not be surprised if it closes again later.

From Hawaii’s perspective, the handful of jobs tied to the aquarium collection trade are pretty immaterial compared to the tourism economy that depends on thriving reefs and fish populations. On top of that, local culture is deeply rooted in respecting the ocean and the idea that if you take care of it, it will take care of you. The number of people opposing aquarium collection there seems to outweigh those supporting it by orders of magnitude.

As reefers, whether we like it or not, this kind of shift feels like an inevitable step. We have seen the same pattern in other hobbies: freshwater fish, parrots, amphibians, tarantulas, and many other exotic pets. Wild collection became more restricted, and the industry eventually adapted by becoming better at captive breeding.In many cases the hobby actually became stronger because of it.

Which makes me wonder: why has saltwater fish lagged behind so much in this area? Why do you think marine fish breeding took so long to catch up compared to so many other animals?

 

[The Ugly Phase]

I’ve heard “Hawaii is back!” so many times over the years that I mostly stopped paying attention. Every time it sounds promising, another roadblock shows up.

I’m just reading the tea leaves here, but my guess is it stays closed. And even if it does reopen at some point, I would not be surprised if it closes again later.

From Hawaii’s perspective, the handful of jobs tied to the aquarium collection trade are pretty immaterial compared to the tourism economy that depends on thriving reefs and fish populations. On top of that, local culture is deeply rooted in respecting the ocean and the idea that if you take care of it, it will take care of you. The number of people opposing aquarium collection there seems to outweigh those supporting it by orders of magnitude.

As reefers, whether we like it or not, this kind of shift feels like an inevitable step. We have seen the same pattern in other hobbies: freshwater fish, parrots, amphibians, tarantulas, and many other exotic pets. Wild collection became more restricted, and the industry eventually adapted by becoming better at captive breeding.In many cases the hobby actually became stronger because of it.

Which makes me wonder: why has saltwater fish lagged behind so much in this area? Why do you think marine fish breeding took so long to catch up compared to so many other animals?

i'm guessing here but it could be because its a ***** lot harder too do i could have 2 yellow tangs and never produce babys i could have repiltes/birds/w/e else and easily produce babys as a hobbiest fish are different i know people can produce clowns i know i could be wrong but have you ever seen a hobbiest produce tangs? the only things we can get tangs to do is wanna kill each other

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

i'm guessing here but it could be because its a ***** lot harder too do i could have 2 yellow tangs and never produce babys i could have repiltes/birds/w/e else and easily produce babys as a hobbiest fish are different i know people can produce clowns i know i could be wrong but have you ever seen a hobbiest produce tangs? the only things we can get tangs to do is wanna kill each other

True, and possibly.

However, I don’t think the people who restricted or legislated many of those other pet industries really cared whether alternative sources would emerge. Breeding programs and captive production mostly developed out of necessity once wild collection became limited.

In a similar way, the closure in Hawaii and the recent breakthroughs in breeding fish that were once considered nearly impossible to raise have shown that the marine aquarium hobby is capable of adapting when it has to. So far that has also come with a cost but as the breeding industry grows and becomes more competitive it may end up cheaper than wild.

I’m not saying this because it’s something I necessarily want to see or support. It’s simply that places like Hawaii are unlikely to prioritize the aquarium industry, and because of that the hobby will probably continue finding new solutions as the need arises.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

True, and possibly.

However, I don’t think the people who restricted or legislated many of those other pet industries really cared whether alternative sources would emerge. Breeding programs and captive production mostly developed out of necessity once wild collection became limited.

In a similar way, the closure in Hawaii and the recent breakthroughs in breeding fish that were once considered nearly impossible to raise have shown that the marine aquarium hobby is capable of adapting when it has to. So far that has also come with a cost but as the breeding industry grows and becomes more competitive it may end up cheaper than wild.

I’m not saying this because it’s something I necessarily want to see or support. It’s simply that places like Hawaii are unlikely to prioritize the aquarium industry, and because of that the hobby will probably continue finding new solutions as the need arises.

i hope so next thing we need to do is ban fishing and let the oceans thrive again

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

I saw an article that a lot of the fish populations in Hawaii have not recovered despite the collection ban, specifically yellow tangs but others as well. I wonder if the government might consider placing a large order from a captive breeder to re-establish some pockets of breeding populations?

That’s all lies. The fish populations are at carrying capacity. The government by way of DAR is in charge of studying said fish populations, and these fish aren’t threatened in the slightest bit. In fact, we can’t hold any more

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

i hope so next thing we need to do is ban fishing and let the oceans thrive again

Wow, I really hope crazy no nothing people never get power

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

I’ve heard “Hawaii is back!” so many times over the years that I mostly stopped paying attention. Every time it sounds promising, another roadblock shows up.

I’m just reading the tea leaves here, but my guess is it stays closed. And even if it does reopen at some point, I would not be surprised if it closes again later.

From Hawaii’s perspective, the handful of jobs tied to the aquarium collection trade are pretty immaterial compared to the tourism economy that depends on thriving reefs and fish populations. On top of that, local culture is deeply rooted in respecting the ocean and the idea that if you take care of it, it will take care of you. The number of people opposing aquarium collection there seems to outweigh those supporting it by orders of magnitude.

As reefers, whether we like it or not, this kind of shift feels like an inevitable step. We have seen the same pattern in other hobbies: freshwater fish, parrots, amphibians, tarantulas, and many other exotic pets. Wild collection became more restricted, and the industry eventually adapted by becoming better at captive breeding.In many cases the hobby actually became stronger because of it.

Which makes me wonder: why has saltwater fish lagged behind so much in this area? Why do you think marine fish breeding took so long to catch up compared to so many other animals?

That isn’t accurate at all. You base your opinion on what?

The kama’aina are not against the fishermen. The activists are. These movements aren’t even Hawaiian in nature, they’re alien but well funded and organized so they recruit some local help to give off the appearance it’s a grass roots movement when in fact it’s not. Local people don’t support bans and that’s not anecdote, it a fact. Theres polling which clearly shows, people support usage of resources if well managed.

You bring up all these other pet sectors and what have you done to contribute to them remaining opened? I know these guys, I’m one of them…and every day is a fight against these same activists groups. The hobbyists just sit there thinking none of this applies to them when in fact these activists WANT TO END THESE HOBBIES. It’s not just the trade, it’s the hobby itself. They’re fundamentalists and strongly feel it’s immoral to keep these exotic animals as pets.

 

[winxp_man]

What I saw the other day……

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

And mind you, the scientific agency, DAR is there in person, supporting the science and the fishery.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

Was the article written by Biota?




I don’t believe that article

Exactly, what a load of crap.

The fish populations are at carrying capacity. We don’t have a resource issue. We have an activist problem.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

That isn’t accurate at all. You base your opinion on what?

The kama’aina are not against the fishermen. The activists are. These movements aren’t even Hawaiian in nature, they’re alien but well funded and organized so they recruit some local help to give off the appearance it’s a grass roots movement when in fact it’s not. Local people sometimes support bans and that’s not anecdote, it a fact. Theres polling which clearly shows, people support usage of resources if well managed.

You bring up all these other pet sectors and what have you done to contribute to them remaining opened? I know these guys, I’m one of them…and every day is a fight against these same activists groups. The hobbyists just sit there thinking none of this applies to them when in fact these activists WANT TO END THESE HOBBIES. It’s not just the trade, it’s the hobby itself. They’re fundamentalists and strongly feel it’s immoral to keep these exotic animals as pets.

For what it’s worth, this is not my desired outcome. I’ve personally contributed more than $50,000 to various pet advocacy groups working to fight this progression, and likely influenced at least double that by asking peers in the industry to match those contributions. Most of those funds have been used to support legal efforts and lobbying work with US senators and members of US Congress.

Much of that effort has been directed at two challenges. One is the activist groups pushing for these restrictions. The other, and in some ways more concerning, are the parasitic law firms that do not really care about the issue itself but have found ways to exploit U.S. law and turn regulatory fights into a profit center.

I’m just sharing my experience, what I hear from peers in the industry, and conversations I have had with Hawaiians while I am there. I think thats what R2R conversations are all about. Admittedly, my conversations with Hawaiians are almost entirely locals on Kauai. I do not believe the ornamental trade has ever really been present there, so their perspective may be different from the state as a whole.

At the same time, it is hard to ignore how similar situations have played out across almost every other exotic pet category.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

Appreciate your support of the hobby and associated trade in some form Ryan.

I think your suspicion of a flawed perspective has merit. Kauai would not be a place with a balanced perspective as it’s never really been a thing there. However, some of the most vocal proponents of the fishery are from Kauai…even tho they don’t catch fish. For them it’s about locals being allowed access to our resources and not allowing outside greedy environmental groups dictate policy here in Hawaii.

 

[winxp_man]

Appreciate your support of the hobby and associated trade in some form Ryan.

I think your suspicion of a flawed perspective has merit. Kauai would not be a place with a balanced perspective as it’s never really been a thing there. However, some of the most vocal proponents of the fishery are from Kauai…even tho they don’t catch fish. For them it’s about locals being allowed access to our resources and not allowing outside greedy environmental groups dictate policy here in Hawaii.

Follow the monies I say haha. Sadly it really is the root of all evil one way or another.

 

[sweetaang]

Follow the monies I say haha. Sadly it really is the root of all evil one way or another.

I hope the wild fishery opens and we can all afford a yellow tang again. Aquaculture has price gouged the hobby for so long on coral and fish only because they can