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Committee urges state ban on commercial aquarium collection; reports two resolutions out after lengthy testimony
Summary
The Honolulu City Council committee reported two resolutions to the full council urging the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the State Legislature to prohibit commercial aquarium collection statewide after extended public testimony both supporting and opposing a ban and clarification on recent court and rulemaking actions.
The Committee on Zoning and Planning voted to report two measures — Resolution 26-159 urging the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to direct the Division of Aquatic Resources to adopt rules banning commercial aquarium collection, and Resolution 26-160 urging the Hawai‘i State Legislature to prohibit harvest for commercial aquarium purposes — out of committee for adoption to the full council.
Supporters, including environmental groups, community organizations, scientists and cultural practitioners, argued the practice harms reef resilience and cultural values and should be prohibited. Drew Hara of Earthjustice told the committee BLNR has the legal authority to prohibit commercial aquarium collection and cited an April 2026 1st circuit environmental court ruling affirming the board's authority. Lena Alele, chief advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Lisa Bishop of Friends of Hanauma Bay urged the council to protect reefs as a public trust. NOAA scientist Jill Zamzow and other researchers cited abundance data showing declines for many aquarium-targeted species on O‘ahu.
Opponents, including fishery representatives and aquaculture advocates, said the trade supports local jobs and that some species can be aquacultured. Ron Tubbs and Nick Ramirez told the committee the fishery is sustainable and accused opponents of providing incomplete information; another testifier (identified in the record as Eric Koch) said DAR and resource managers consider the fishery sustainable and cautioned against measures that could harm families dependent on collection.
Committee members and counsel discussed the administrative and legal status: the 2017 Hawaii Supreme Court ruling requiring an environmental review under HRS chapter 343, DLNR's 2018 determination that an EIS was required for O‘ahu, and that DAR is proposing rules to resume issuing permits for West Hawai‘i. Several speakers clarified that while an EIS is an informational document, an approved EIS does not guarantee permitting. Earthjustice and other supporters said a rulemaking petition to promulgate a statewide ban was previously approved by the board but faced legal advice; DAR pursued a parallel rules package to reopen permitting for a limited number of permittees on Hawai‘i Island. Public testimony included references to the West Hawai‘i EIS, previous BLNR and court actions, and local neighborhood boards that have adopted similar resolutions.
After discussion, the chair recommended both resolutions be reported out for adoption; with no objections the committee ordered them reported out to the full council. The measures will next go to the full City Council and supporters urged county coordination to bolster prospects in the upcoming legislative session.
