Environmental and industry advocates have been battling for years over whether the state should end the commercial collection of aquarium fish from Hawaii reefs. The fight led to a court decision that banned the use of fine-mesh nets — the main tool of fish collectors — until an environmental review is completed.
>> Oct. 24, 2012: Plaintiffs sue state Department of Land and Natural Resources, challenging issuance of 50 aquarium permits. DLNR accused of failing to complete environmental review before approving permits.
>> June 24, 2013: Circuit Court determines issuing of aquarium permits not action subject to review under Hawaii Environmental Policy Act.
>> July 18, 2013: Plaintiffs appeal to intermediate court of appeals.
>> Aug. 31, 2016: ICA upholds ruling, affirming that aquarium permits are not subject to environmental review.
>> May 2, 2017: Senate (25-0), House (36-14) pass Senate Bill 1240, prohibiting issuing of new permits for commercial collection of Hawaii aquarium fish.
>> July 11, 2017: Gov. David Ige vetoes bill, saying science doesn’t support claims made in legislation.
>> Sept. 6, 2017: Hawaii Supreme Court rules commercial aquarium permits subject to Hawaii environmental review law but record not adequate to determine whether recreational permits exempt.
>> Sept. 7, 2017: DLNR stops issuing new commercial permits and renewing existing ones.
>> Oct. 27, 2017: Based on high court decision, Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Crabtree rules all existing permits issued to commercial collectors illegal until appropriate environmental reviews done.
>> Jan. 5, 2018: DLNR announces no aquatic life may be taken for commercial aquarium purposes off West Hawaii until review completed.
>> April 8, 2018: Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, representing aquarium trade, submits environmental assessments to DLNR for islands of Hawaii and Oahu, maintaining issuing of commercial permits would not have significant environmental impact.
>> April 12, 2018: Judge Crabtree rules all unexpired recreational permits allowing collection with fine-mesh nets void pending environmental reviews.
>> July 26, 2018: DLNR rejects trade’s environmental assessments, requiring more rigorous environmental impact statements. Council working on one for West Hawaii.
Source: Court documents, state records, Honolulu Star-Advertiser research
