Hawaii's New Collection Rules - Only 40 Species of Fish on "White" List

I posted this elsewhere, but figured it a good idea to post on 3reef, for those who haven't heard or seen.

I'm not sure if anyone has discussed the details on here as of yet, about Hawaii's new laws on collection. This applies to both the aquarium trade & fisheries. As most of us are already aware, this battle has been waging for quite a long time.

This new law states that only the 40 species of fish on the "White List," may be collected, period. It has also placed a limit onto how many of these species on the list, may be collected.

"There will now be bag and slot limits, for the Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles), the Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus), and the Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)—three iconic species commonly targeted in the aquarium fishery."

However, the catch is that currently, it's only limited to the WHRFMA (West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area). As it stands, any fish outside of this area and not on the "white list," can still be collected. There does seem to be some concern, however, that the remaining areas of Hawaii, may just see this as an example and adopt the same regulations.

Further details & specifics, can be found here:
New rules for Hawaii

Here's the map, for restrictions.



Here's a list of the fish currently on the "White List."

1. Yellow Tang, Zebrasoma flavescens

2. Chevron Tang, Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis

3. Goldring Surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus strigosus

4. Achilles Tang, Acanthurus achilles

5. Tinker’s Butterflyfish, Chaetodon tinkeri

6. Clown Tang, Naso lituratus

7. Forcepsfish, Forcipiger flavissimus

8. Goldrim Surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigricans

9. Potter’s Angelfish, Centropyge potteri

10. Fourspot Butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus

11. Yellowtail Coris, Coris gaimard

12. Ornate Wrasse, Halichoeres ornatissimus

13. Orangeband Surgeonfish, Acanthurus olivaceus

14. Bird Wrasse, Gomphosus varius

15. Eyestripe Surgeonfish, Acanthurus dussumieri

16. Multiband Butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus

17. Saddle Wrasse, Thalassoma duperrey

18. Brown Surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigrofuscus

19. Flame Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus jordani

20. Thompson’s Surgeonfish, Acanthurus thompsoni

21. Peacock Grouper, Cephalopholis argus

22. Bluestripe Snapper, Lutjanus kasmira

23. Redbarred Hawkfish, Cirrhitops fasciatus

24. Psychedelic Wrasse, Anampses chrysocephalus

25. Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby, Canthigaster jactator

26. Fisher’s Angelfish, Centropyge fisheri

27. Hawaiian Dascyllus, Dascyllus albisella

28. Milletseed Butterflyfish, Chaetodon miliaris

29. Blacklip Butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii

30. Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis

31. Shortnose Wrasse, Macropharyngodon geoffroyi

32. Black Durgon, Melichthys niger

33. Spotted Boxfish, Ostracion meleagris

34. Blackside Hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri

35. Hawaiian Longfin Anthias, Pseudanthias hawaiiensis

36. Eightstripe Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus octotaenia

37. Fourstripe Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia

38. Smalltail Wrasse, Pseudojuloides cerasinus

39. Lei Triggerfish, Sufflamen bursa

40. Gilded Triggerfish, Xanthichthys auromarginatus

West Hawaii Fisheries White List of Legal Aquarium Fishes


As you can see, there are a number of fish collected here, that are not on the list. The first one that comes to mind for me, is the Crosshatch Triggerfish (Xanthichthys mento).

One of my biggest concerns with this new regulation on the collection rate, is how this will have a direct affect on driving prices. As we know, the driving force of price = supply vs. demand.

 

Good news!

 

I'm very happy Hawaii is managing the fishery, rather than shutting it down or (on the opposite end of the spectrum) allowing it to continue unregulated. Good news for the environment and for the aquarium trade.

 

Fantatstic. Maybe other countries in the Pacific will adopt similar policies.

The more fisheries that adopt this, the more companies are forced to develop sustainable practices and aqua/mariculture.