Environmental groups are criticizing proposed state rules to regulate the collection of ocean aquarium fish on Oahu.
"These rules aren’t based on good science," Earthjustice associate attorney Caroline Ishida said. "What we want to see is what basis they have for making these rules and looking at good science."
A public hearing on the draft rules by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Waimalu Elementary School cafeteria.
The hearing follows a lawsuit filed in October seeking to force the department to study the effects of aquarium fish collection before issuing more permits.
No date has been set for the court hearing.
Ishida said that under the proposed rules, there is no limit on the number of permits for aquarium fish collection.
She said the rules do not cover ocean invertebrates and would also allow a person to take tens of thousands of yellow tang a year.
Coral Fish Hawaii owner Randy Fernley, who is in favor of the rules, said there is no shortage of aquarium fish based on prior scientific assessments.
Fernley said the science available does not back up the rhetoric of environmental groups.
Under the proposed rules, a person with a commercial aquarium fish permit would be able to take a daily bag limit of no more than 100 yellow tangs, 75 kole, 50 Potter’s angels, 50 naso tangs, 25 moorish idols and 10 Achilles tangs.
The draft rules would limit the length of mesh nets to no more than 60 feet long and would also limit the collection of bandit angelfish that are longer than 5.5 inches to not more than two daily.
The proposed rules would impose misdemeanor penalties of up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine to violators. Any civil fines are up to $1,000 per violation and $1,000 per specimen.
More details are included at goo.gl/t9x3U.
