Aquarium Store Backs MASNA Position on Hawaii Aquarium Fishery

Ben Ros, Director of Operations for MarineDepot.com. “Partnering with this distinguished organization is a way to amplify our shared positions on responsible aquarium keeping and sustainable aquarium fishery.”

Anti-aquarium activists introduced 14 aquarium-related bills to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2012, including “ban bills” that would make aquarium livestock collection illegal. HawaiiBanFactCheck.org in February to assess statements made in regard to legislation seeking to ban or regulate the marine aquarium trade in Hawaii. HawaiiBanFactCheck.org monitors the factual accuracy of information disseminated by individuals, anti-trade groups, politicians and others seeking to close or regulate Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery, as well as information put forth by individuals supporting the trade. The goal is to assess the accuracy of the information and educate the public about the facts concerning Hawaii’s marine aquarium fisheries and trade.

A few key points HawaiiBanFactCheck.org has listed on their website:

–    Most of the measures seeking to close the marine aquarium fishery in Hawaii are based on claims that the fishery is “devastating” Hawaii’s reefs. Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) aquatic biologist Dr. William Walsh stated in testimony responding to allegations of devastation, “This is not devastation.” Walsh was speaking specifically to the marine aquarium fishery in West Hawaii, which is the largest aquarium fishery in the State. Walsh and his colleagues, as well as independent researchers, believe there is no credible scientific data showing a total ban on Hawaii’s marine aquarium fishery is warranted at this time.
–    There are no species of fishes currently collected for the marine aquarium trade in Hawaii that are designated as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act...HawaiiBanFactCheck.org in both online and offline channels, including email, social media, print catalogs and in-box flyers...North America, will feature a keynote address from Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of world renowned conservationist, filmmaker, scientist, author and researcher Jaques Cousteau.

“Legislation that threatens to ban fish collection for the aquarium trade is an important issue to us and our customers,” notes Ros. “Everyone in the aquarium community is a stakeholder. It is critical we unite on issues that may threaten our livelihoods and the hobby we love so much.”

To learn more about Hawaii marine aquarium fishery and legislation, visit http://hawaiibanfactcheck.org/...To learn more about aquariums or to get started in the hobby, visit http://www.marinedepot.com/.

About MarineDepot.com
MarineDepot.com is the world’s #1 supplier of marine and reef aquarium supplies. The company was founded in 1997 by self-professed “fish geek” Ken Wong after he became frustrated by the lack of selection and support provided by many local fish stores. Today, MarineDepot.com offers over 7,000 popular and hard-to-find products with free technical support provided by a staff of aquarium experts known as the Reef Squad. MarineDepot.com employs 45 full- and part-time employees in Garden Grove, CA. Ohio non-profit organization composed of marine aquarium societies and individual hobbyists from North America and abroad, totaling several thousand individuals...For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/9/prweb9923026.htm