Hawaiian Ornamental Fishing Ban PASSED

[Slick Fork]

I think the ban is a good thing, if you read into the report that Myka provided the yellow tang numbers increased in areas with a full ban on collection. Open water and unprotected populations are still down. It also makes the point that the Yellow tang is unique and a protected areas approach may not have the same effect on all fish.

A limited collection on ornamental fish is WAY more difficult and costly to implement and enforce than for a commercial fishery so I don't see that as a real solution. Perhaps a large import tax on wild-caught fish would encourage captive bred specimens but if prices go too far up people will leave this hobby like you wouldn't believe, causing the price an LFS charges for something to climb even higher as they need a larger margin per item to cover overhead and put food on the table.

I would be sad to see the supply die out completely, LFS's close etc. But, I would be even sadder to see this hobby push a fragile ecosystem over the edge. I love my fish tank, but I don't define my existence by it. If affordable, ethical fish and coral cease to be available I will find something else to do. Simple as that.