Protect The Worlds Resources

New Hawaii Aquarium Bill Prohibits Harassment of Fishers in

In Global, Hawaii, Sea Shepherd by TwowolvesLeave a Comment

Protect The Worlds Resources

How Can They Ban documenting Illegal Activities? Only in America!

Destroying the Ocean From Your Living Room!

Commentary by  Captain Paul Watson

How do Aquarium fishermen in Hawaii prevent any documentation of illegal activity by conservationists? The answer is, they get a legislator to make it a crime to document illegal activity.

That is exactly what is being introduced into the Hawaiian legislature with House Bill 511.

Not surprising. When there is a buck to be made from any enterprise, there will be legislation created to protect it.

Sea Shepherd has never interfered with Hawaiian fishermen but in response to documenting a fishing activity last year a Sea Shepherd diver was physically assaulted. The assault goes unpunished and instead legislation is introduced to ban any further documentation. And the only reason aquarium fishermen do not want documentation would be to prevent any evidence gathering of illegal fishing operations.

Every year more than one hundred million fish are caught for home aquarium and most of these fish die within a year or so. Aquarium fish capture is diminishing coral reef eco-systems around the world and causing irreparable damage to oceanic eco-systems.

It is difficult of course for the home aquarium hobbyist to comprehend how their hobby can be so destructive. How can a few fish in their tank contribute to the destruction of coral reefs? The answer is ten million hobbyists constantly buying fish that die and need to be replaced.

Fish belong in the Ocean and not in your living room or office.

 

House Bill 511 will likely be the second aquarium fish bill introduced to the State of Hawaii’s 28th Legislature. The Bill, which will be introduced by Representatives Cindy Evans, Nicole Lowen, Mark Nakashima, Richard Onishi and Joy San Buenaventura, would prohibit the harassment of persons marine fishing and aquarium fishing. The Bill also specifically addresses the enforcement of harassment “as a duty of a conservation and resources enforcement officer.” The first aquarium bill of 2015–SB 322, which would prohibit the sale of aquatic life for aquarium purposes–was introduced yesterday in the Senate.

HB 511 would amend the Hawaii Revised Statues to read:

No person shall intentionally prevent or attempt to prevent the lawful taking of fish by a person permitted pursuant to section 188-31, licensed pursuant to section 188-50, or fishing in marine waters within the State’s jurisdiction by:

via New Hawaii Aquarium Bill Prohibits Harassment of Fishers in.

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