by AquaNerd | Jul 24, 2013 | Conservation, Fish, Industry, Sustainability
At the end of June, the Hawaiian Board of Land and Natural Resources, with a 4-2 vote, passed new laws limiting collecting of fish for the aquarium trade to a 40 species “white list” for the Big Island. In addition to the creation of a white list, three of the species found on that list will also have specific bag limits, which are detailed below. Along with the white list, the vote also puts an outright ban on spear fishing with SCUBA gear for West Hawaiian waters. This list and its bag limits are a bit confusing and seem incomplete. Regardless, they may not even have an impact on the number of fish being imported into the hobby. This white list is for the Big Island of Hawaii only, including West Hawaii, but other areas won’t share the same legislation, at least for now. Other counties may adopt a similar set of rules and regulations, which could really handcuff the trade throughout the state. All that said, I do not see any big issues with a white list or bag limits, to be quite honest. The white list is what bothers me the most, as it prevents certain species that could be eventually aquacultured from ever reaching that status, and it excludes other fish that might be in an extreme abundance, but merely left out. Below are bag limits and the 40-species white list, both taken from Fish Channel. Bag Limits Yellow Tangs: no more than five larger than 4.5 inches or five smaller than 2 inches Gldring Surgeonfish (Kole Tang): no more than five per person per day larger than 4 inches Achilles Tang: limit of 10 per person per day The West Hawaii White List The following list represents the fish species that may still be taken for the aquarium trade in Hawaii. Fish not on the list are protected. Yellow tang Chevron tang Goldring surgeonfish Achilles tang Tinker’s butterflyfish Orangespine Unicornfish Forecepfish Goldrim surgeonfish Potter’s angelfish Fourspot butterflyfish Yellowtail Coris Ornate Wrasse Orangeband surgeonfish Bird wrasse Eyestripe Surgeonfish Multiband butterflyfish Saddle wrasse Brown surgeonfish Flame wrasse Thompson’s surgeonfish Peacock grouper Bluestripe snapper Redbarred hawkfish Psychedelic wrasse Hawaiian Whitespotted toby Fisher’s angelfish Hawaii Dascyllus Milletseed butterflyfish Blacklip butterflyfish Pyramid butterflyfish Shortnose wrasse Black durgon Spotted boxfish Blackside hawkfish Hawaii longfin anthias Eightline wrasse Fourline wrasse Smalltail wrasse Lei triggerfish Gilded triggerfish by Rising Tide | Jun 12, 2013 | Aquaculture, Conservation, Fish, Sustainability
We first spotted Colurella adriatica in one of our larval rearing systems that had been fed wild zooplankton. It exhibited some characteristics that we thought might be advantageous for rearing of small pelagic larvae; such as tangs. … by Todd Gardner | Jun 3, 2013 | Aquaculture, Conservation, Fish, Sustainability
One of the most exciting things about my job is watching larval fish develop when I have no idea what species they are. I spend hours peering into my larval rearing tanks, looking for similarities between the larvae and the fishes in our 20,000-gallon coral reef... by Kenneth Wingerter | May 10, 2013 | Aquaculture, Fish, Sustainability
Fisheries researchers at the Oceanic Institute in Hawaii have been working—not so successfully—for years to develop culture techniques for the commercially and ecologically important yellow tang (Zebrasoma... by Kenneth Wingerter | May 3, 2013 | Conservation, Fish, Industry, Sustainability
The dry season is near. The river waters are fast receding. Only small, stagnant ponds remain over what once was an extensive riverbed. The dry season commences. Ponds become puddles. Hundreds or thousands of small, colorful fish are hopelessly trapped in the... by Rising Tide | Apr 9, 2013 | Aquaculture, Fish, Sustainability
Mature pair of crested oyster gobies. Male above, female below The field of marine ornamental aquaculture is truly unique. Unlike food fish aquaculture or pearl farming where end consumers gain a product bearing little resemblance to the live, cultured form marine...
