BLNR rejects aquarium collection proposal
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The state Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected a proposal Friday to reopen commercial aquarium fish collection in West Hawaiʻi.
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The practice of taking live fish from reefs has been banned for years due to environmental concerns.
Although the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) supported the proposal, the decision follows a month-long comment period for written testimony and two public hearings.
The decision follows a month-long open comment period for written testimony and two public hearings of oral testimony.
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Opposition testimony heavily focused on protecting the lauʻīpala — a culturally significant yellow surgeonfish native to Hawaiian coral reefs.
“Reef fish — our iʻa — are not simply commodities,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele. “They are an integral part of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices, our relationship with ʻāina and kai, and the health and abundance of the ecosystems that have sustained our people for generations.”
Following the rejection, DAR said it will revisit the public rulemaking process with a new series of public hearings.
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