Reef Fish Are Not Ornaments!
Every year, millions of reef animals are collected on Hawaii reefs and shipped to the mainland U.S., Europe and Asia for the aquarium hobby, aka "marine ornamental" hobby. Mortality rates in the hobby are astronomical. Many die in collection. Many more die in transit. One industry expert said, "Virtually none ( less than 1%) live more than a year in captivity."
Most fish species collected are either endemic to Hawaii (e.g. Potter's angel), or listed by aquarium experts as "unsuitable for captivity" (e.g. Moorish Idol). All species collected are vital to reef balance. One egregious example of a fish sacrificed for brief entertainment in a tank is the Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, known to starve in 30 days without adequate populations to clean, yet they ship out daily, leaving Hawaii reef fish susceptible to parasites. The Yellow tang is the most heavily collected animal and would live for decades if left on the reef, instead of mere months in a home tank.
Aquarium collecting in Hawaii has caused significant reef fish population declines, ranging from 38 - 75% in the targeted species--Hawaii's most beautiful, unusual and often rarest fish.
The "marine ornamental" trade operates in Hawaii with few restrictions -- no limits on the number of fish or species collected, and permits are only $50 a year for access to every non-protected reef, statewide.
Hawaii's reef animals are fueling a disposable pet hobby: when the fish die, they are thrown out and replaced, like cut flowers. These fish support the sale of "dry goods"--tanks, filters, lights, etc--instead of supporting their home reefs.
Please help Hawaii's reef animals. Sign the petition and:
1) Ask your local pet stores to stop selling marine fish and animals taken from the reefs.
2) Ask your local restaurants and businesses with marine aquariums to stop keeping/displaying marine fish and animals taken from the reefs.
3) Boycott those businesses that ignore your requests.
4) To learn more, go to www.FortheFishes.org, and spread the word to your friends, neighbors and community!
Mahalo!
Every year, millions of reef animals are collected on Hawaii reefs and shipped to the mainland U.S., Europe and Asia for the aquarium hobby, aka "marine ornamental" hobby. Mortality rates in the hobby are astronomical. Many die in collection. Many more die in transit. One industry expert said, "Virtually none ( less than 1%) live more than a year in captivity."
Most fish species collected are either endemic to Hawaii (e.g. Potter's angel), or listed by aquarium experts as "unsuitable for captivity" (e.g. Moorish Idol). All species collected are vital to reef balance. One egregious example of a fish sacrificed for brief entertainment in a tank is the Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, known to starve in 30 days without adequate populations to clean, yet they ship out daily, leaving Hawaii reef fish susceptible to parasites. The Yellow tang is the most heavily collected animal and would live for decades if left on the reef, instead of mere months in a home tank.
Aquarium collecting in Hawaii has caused significant reef fish population declines, ranging from 38 - 75% in the targeted species--Hawaii's most beautiful, unusual and often rarest fish.
The "marine ornamental" trade operates in Hawaii with few restrictions -- no limits on the number of fish or species collected, and permits are only $50 a year for access to every non-protected reef, statewide.
Hawaii's reef animals are fueling a disposable pet hobby: when the fish die, they are thrown out and replaced, like cut flowers. These fish support the sale of "dry goods"--tanks, filters, lights, etc--instead of supporting their home reefs.
Please help Hawaii's reef animals. Sign the petition and:
1) Ask your local pet stores to stop selling marine fish and animals taken from the reefs.
2) Ask your local restaurants and businesses with marine aquariums to stop keeping/displaying marine fish and animals taken from the reefs.
3) Boycott those businesses that ignore your requests.
4) To learn more, go to www.FortheFishes.org, and spread the word to your friends, neighbors and community!
Mahalo!
we need to establish "no collecting zones" scattered along all shores of the islands. we need to ban all collecting and exportation of tropical fish, increase fines 20 times for violators, increase staffing and funding of dlnr to enforce laws properly, need the government to take action as quickly as possible to stop this activity that hurts our coral reefs and tourism. it takes about 7 years for reef fish to re-populate an area where they are collected from. sometimes, the population never recovers due to continued collecting, fishing, and damage to the reefs. i have noticed a huge drop in the number of fish off kailua and lanikai due to over-fishing/collecting, and reef damage from pollution etc.
I am a scuba diver. These fish are beautiful in the wild, and many are decreasing in number. Keep the life, keep the beauty.
As a scuba diver and fish photographer, I think fish collecting is a waste of one of Hawaii's most beautiful natural resources.
This issue is critical to the long term health and viability to one of Hawaii's greatest natural resources. We must not squander this for short term gains.
Collecting fish for aquariums is a crime against nature! The oceans and reefs of the world must be left to grow and prosper, not be exploited for personal gain, especially when so many fish die on the way to 'collectors'! What fools we are to not stop this immediately!
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12:39 pm PDT, Oct 18,
Darin Scherer, Kentucky
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The reef fish in Hawaii are a natural resource. How can individuals rape the natural resource with no restrictions? Fishing for family food consumption is acceptable, collecting for aquariums is NOT. Want to enjoy the fish? Get into the ocean and snorkel or go to the Ocean Center (they know how to maintain and care for fish).
I dive or swim on Maui every day and have for over 20 years. The reef system is showing the impact of over harvesting and pollution. It is time to do the RIGHT THING.
This is madness! Hawaii's major industry is tourism, and most tourists want to experience Hawaii's oceans -- including seeing the beautiful reef fish.
Not only are the fish and reefs adversely but also our tourist industry. Stop the madness!
Fish living on the reefs are far more important to Hawaii in terms of the health of the reefs, the other creatures that live there, the cleanliness of the waters surrounding the islands, and, yes, the tourism, than they can ever be to the aquarium trade. Please implement restrictions on the numbers that can be collected, and create no-take sanctuaries to rebuild and protect the reef systems.
I know that many of these fish are not easy to grow in captivity, and I understand that they are pretty to have in your tanks - I like them too, but imagine living free for the first part of your life, and then living the rest of it trapped in a clear cage that you can't understand. Sounds like hell to me. If you want to experience our fish, PLEASE! Visit the Hawaiian Islands!!! We would be happy to show them to you :)
Fish from here shouldn't be exported. We use the ocean not only to see things, we play, we eat, and we can use it as a living classroom. If this continues, it will contribute to ecosystem decline and there may be nothing left for future generations to learn, see, and eat. The ocean is very important to us. Please don't take anything from here.
I am a frequented the Islands and as a diver have now noticed the dwindling number of fish species. Please put an end to the stripping of underwater fish life for the aquarium market. They should farm their own fish and not steal it from the rest of the world.
Every year I take a scuba diving trip; I've taken two to Hawaii. I am unlikely to do so again, until your state takes affirmative action to end this unwise and unsound practice. The tourism dollars benefit far more of your business and economy that those coming from shady operators of fish collecting businesses.
I am going on a scuba holiday to Hawaii in the future. It should be beautiful unless people keep this up. There might not be reefs with marine life any longer!
As a diver I've noticed a decline in the tropical fish populations off Kona, and the studies of no-take zones showing higher fish populations there confirm that the aquarium fish collection trade is at least partially responsible.
When will we ever learn? after we kill off everything! Hawaii has lost my business in the last few years as you see more fish at a Sushi bar then underwater!
As an ocean swimmer, I love viewing all the gorgeous reef fish. Growing up, our neighbor had a salt water aquarium in their living room. They would always complain how much work it was to keep the ph balance right and how often the fish would die and have to be replaced. What a waste. I realize that not all folks are as lucky as me to swim in the ocean and view these magnificent creatures up close. However, I don't feel our reefs should be exploited and raped of marine life. Perhaps stricter laws should be enacted to regulate harvesting of reef fish.
I think it is a terrible tragedy that less than 1% of captured live fish live longer than 1 year! Save Hawaii's fish population by limiting the number (to very low) of fish that are allowed to be taken.
As an avid diver, I am filled with admiration and wonder every time I dip beneath the ocean's surface. It's a thill and an honor witness the sheer beauty and diversity of our seas' flora and fauna. But ever year, I notice less life beneath our waves. The aquarium trade is partially responsible for this. Please leave marine animals and plants where they belong - in the wild. Marine plants and animals are also our best hopes of cleaning and repairing the damage we are systematically inflicting on marine ecosystems, but they will do precious little good in an aquariast's home or (worse yet) dead en route to a pet store.
