Fact Checking Topics

Below you will find links to supporting evidence for assessing the veracity of statements made about Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery.

Are the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area Rule Proposals (May 2012) Good or Bad for Hawaii’s Marine Aquarium Fishery? – Individuals on both sides of the debate over Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery have called the current proposed rules package into question. While those opposed to the aquarium trade and Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery say the rules package doesn’t go far enough (nothing short of a ban will), some believe the new rules go too far and that too many questions remain about the real impact on the fishers. Get the facts, and then let your voice be heard.

Did Industry Leader Say Tank-Bred Fishes Are Best for the Hobby? – For the Fishes, a Hawaii-based anti-aquarium organization recently cited a Pet Products News article as further evidence the marine aquarium trade should move entirely away from wild-caught fishes. This is consistent with the organization’s argument that Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery should be closed and that the marine aquarium trade should rely entirely on tank-bred fishes. In this case, For the Fishes used a presumably credible source within the marine aquarium industry to further their argument, but did they get it right?

The Marine Aquarium Fishery Relative to the Recreational and Commercial Fisheries – The marine aquarium fishery in Hawaii is but one of many fisheries. While it is a significant fishery, it is by no means the largest, nor does it have the greatest impact. Nonetheless, anti-aquarium fishery activists target only the aquarium fishery and blame it for reef devastation. The facts, as you will see on the next page, do not support their position. Based on the data, we support all well-managed sustainable fisheries, including recreational fisheries, commercial food fisheries and aquarium fisheries.

Abundance of Yellow Tang (Coming Soon!) – The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) is the most collected fish in the Hawaii marine aquarium fishery. As such, this species gets a lot of attention. Anti-aquarium activists commonly say collection impact on the species has reduced its abundance along the Kona coast of Big Island (where most are collected) by 73 percent. They commonly say yellow tangs are no longer common on Hawaii’s reefs. The facts, as you will see on the next page, tell a different story. While fisheries managers say additional regulation will enhance the yellow tang fishery and insure sustainability, the data shows that yellow tang abundance along the Kona coast of Big Island has actually increased over the past decade, even as collection has increased.