Hawai’i’s Board of Land and Natural Resources split vote on aquarium fishing in West Hawai’i
Recently, after 4.5 hours of verbal testimony, the State of Hawai’i Boad of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) reached a tie (3-3) vote regarding an aquarium industry-funded environmental impact statement aimed at reopening the aquarium pet trade to seven unnamed fishers in the West Hawai’i Regional Fishery Management Area (WHRFMA) off of Big Island. According to relevant Hawai’i Revised Statutes, without a majority (4+) vote before July 8, the impact statement will automatically be deemed “accepted.”
The Board’s split acceptance of the EIS came as a surprise to many supporters of ending the aquarium pet trade. Despite the revised environmental impact statement repeating many of the same flaws - including misrepresentations and omissions - that caused it to be rejected by the Board last May, Chair Suzanne Case voted to accept the EIS as adequate, reasoning that the Industry Applicant’s “gave it their best shot.”
While many are rightfully dissapointed by this result - the Aquarium Fishery in West Hawai’i remains closed despite the Board’s acceptance of the EIS. This is because the Department of Aquatic Resources is barred from issuing permits of licenses to proposed aquarium collectors until two court-ordered injunctions are lifted.
Thankfully, yesterday Earthjustice took legal action on behalf of a coalition of conservation groups, Native Hawaiian fishers, and cultural practitioners, challenging BLNR’s actions!
Mahalo nui to everyone who has been writing in and speaking up to protect Hawai’i’s reefs from this extractive export industry. We’ll keep you posted on what happens next!
