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Committee urges state ban on commercial aquarium fish harvest, forwards resolution to full council
Summary
On Jan. 6, 2026 the Hawaii County committee voted 9‑0 to forward Resolution 4‑22‑25 to the full council, urging the state legislature to prohibit commercial aquarium collection in Hawaii's marine waters after extensive public testimony citing ecological, cultural and enforcement concerns.
On Jan. 6 the Hawaii County Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs voted unanimously to send Resolution 4‑22‑25 to the full County Council with a favorable recommendation. The resolution urges the Hawaii state legislature to prohibit harvest of aquatic life from state marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes.
Public testimony at the committee meeting in Hilo and via Zoom was heavily weighted in favor of a statewide ban. Keihanani Springer, a practitioner and researcher from Keaau, told the committee she stood on her written testimony and said the commercial aquarium industry “removes reef fish essential to ecosystem balance and cultural practice” and “our reef still may…
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