New rules for collecting aquarium fish are in effect for Oahu waters.
The rules, put in place last month, include new limits on nets used to collect marine life, daily commercial bag limits, commercial size limits and a prohibition on the taking of some fish species.
Mesh nets more than 30 feet long or 6 feet high, or the joining of two nets for a combined length of more than 60 feet, are banned. The limits are intended to reduce the use of long nets that could increase chances of injury to the fish collected.
Taking or possession of ornate butterflyfish, oval butterflyfish or reticulated butterflyfish is prohibited because they feed strictly on coral and are difficult to maintain in captivity.
New daily commercial bag and size limits apply to the yellow tang, kole, naso tang, Achilles tang, Moorish idol, Potter’s angel, bandit (banded) angelfish and cleaner wrasse.
The new rules were requested by a group of commercial aquarium collectors from Oahu who saw the need for better management of the fishery, according to Alton Miyasaka, acting administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources.
"The collectors were concerned about the potential for waste of limited resources when fish are taken and, due to rough handling or overcrowding, become injured prior to sale to dealers," Miyasaka said. "Their goal is to provide pristine fish to the worldwide market."
The law covers waters within 3.4 miles of the Oahu shoreline.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources approved the rules in October, and they became effective April 2.
