Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 11, 1 November 2021 — Board's Decision Protects O' ahu's Reefs [ARTICLE]

Board's Decision Protects O' ahu's Reefs

In early October, the State of Hawai'i Board of Land and Natural Resources rejected an environmental impact statement (EIS) aimed at reopening the aquarium pet trade on O'ahu. Last year, the Board rejected the aquarium industry's initial EIS to reopen aquarium collection in West Hawai'i. The Board concluded that the EIS failed to disclose the true environmental harm of commereial aquarium collection. "The

laek of any analysis for Kāne'ohe Bay, whieh already experiences the heaviest collection pressure, was an egregious omission," said Rene Umberger, executive director of For the Fishes. "The industry's plan allowed for a take of nearly 293,000 fishes and invertebrates every year from Kāne'ohe Bay - or any other area around O'ahu." "0'ahu's reefs are in crisis," said Maxx Phillips, the Center for Biological Diversity's Hawai'i director and staff attorney. "There is no plaee for the industry's false narrative, skewed analysis, or outdated science in the fight to protect Hawai'i for generations to eome." "To restore the beauty and abundance of our reef, reef wildlife, and our oeean 'ohana, the people and agencies must work hand in hand for the greater good of Hawai'i," said Kealoha Pisciotta of Kai Palaoa. "I am thankful the Board did not bend under pressure from the aquarium industry and listened again to the voices of our people." O'ahu was onee the epicenter of the Hawai'i aquarium pet trade until overfishing caused the eollapse of 0'ahu's nearshore fishery in the 1980s. The trade then reloSEE NEWS BRIEFS 0N PAGE 29

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NEWS BRIEFS Continued from page 28 cated to West Hawai'i, but has maintained a presence on O'ahu. Currently, commercial aquarium collection is prohibited statewide.