Can Hawaii Save Their Reefs From Aquarium Collecting?

Last year, Hawaii became the first state to shut down the shark fin trade. In another effort to protect their ocean ecosystems, legislation has been introduced that would ban the collection of reef fish for the aquarium trade.

This isn't the first time that a ban has been proposed, but legislators are optimistic that this could be the year that Hawaii's reefs get much-needed protection. "I think there's just a greater awareness," Sen. Roz Baker (D-Honokohau-Makena) told the Maui News.

Part of that may be because of a bag found in a dumpster on the Big Island. It contained more than 600 Yellow Tangs that had been tossed out by a fish dealer. The hundreds of fish bodies were laid out on the pavement, providing the media with a stark visual on the aquarium trade's toll. But those few hundred fish don't even scratch the surface of the impact aquarium collecting has on Hawaii's fish and reefs; that aquarium in your dentist's office isn't as peaceful as it looks.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, fish collectors in Hawaii get an average of $4 per fish. And they count on volume to make a profit ... especially when an estimated 15,000 fish die before even making it out of Hawaii. From there, about 9 percent of the fish die at each stage of the journey before finally ending up in the hands of a saltwater aquarium enthusiast who may or may not know how to care for the fish.

An estimated 1.5 to 3.75 million animals are taken from Hawaii's reefs every year; some estimate as many as 10 million. Aquarium defenders will refute that number, but according to Robert Wintner (a.k.a. "Snorkel Bob," a well-known diver and anti-aquarium activist), "[In 2009] on Maui, one dealer reported purchasing more fish than all the collectors reported catching."

It's not just the reporting that's poorly regulated — there are few limits on what types or quantities of fish can be collected. The result is that some fish populations in Hawaii's reefs have shrunk by as much as 97 percent.

Despite the fact that their destructive practices could put them out of business, aquarium collectors aren't exactly supportive of a ban. Some even play the job-loss card, although the wholesale destruction of reefs threatens Hawaii's $800 million a year tourism and recreation industry.

Aquarium fish collection isn't just destructive, it's also cruel. In order to save time and money, collectors commonly cut the fins off fish (so they won't puncture bags), pierce their bladders with needles (to compensate for pressure changes when they're quickly hauled out of deep waters), and deprive them of food so the water doesn't get filthy during transport.

Just last month, Maui County Council unanimously voted to ban these cruel practices. But since the state holds jurisdiction off-shore, statewide legislation is necessary to protect the animals and the ecosystem. Tell Hawaii legislators that you support laws to stop the destruction of the aquarium trade.

Photo credit: benleto