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Commission backs staff engagement on banning commercial release of farmed butterflies
Summary
The commission voted to authorize staff to work with agencies and stakeholders on a proposed policy to ban the commercial release of captive-bred butterflies and moths in the city, citing biodiversity, disease and monitoring concerns.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment on Dec. 3 voted to move forward with staff work to pursue options for a ban or regulatory approach to the commercial release of captive-bred butterflies and moths.
Commissioner Ruth Gervanis introduced a resolution developed by the policy committee after public concerns about packaged butterfly releases at weddings and events. Peter Brasstow, the city’s newly appointed biodiversity coordinator, described San Francisco’s urban biodiversity and said commercial releases can interfere with monitoring and introduce disease or nonnative genetic stock. Amber Hasselbring of Nature in the City explained how butterfly breeders ship recently emerged insects chilled in envelopes for release, and cautioned that released insects may not survive or may carry pathogens.
Public testimony included local conservation scientists and representatives of the Xerces Society and Golden Gate Audubon, who urged the commission to support a policy framework. Commissioners amended the resolution to authorize the department to engage stakeholders — including scientific organizations and event planners — rather than immediately mandate a Board of Supervisors ordinance. The amended resolution passed on an aye vote.
