#rene umberger

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled in a 4-1 decision today that the pet industry’s environmental review of commercial aquarium fish collection in West Hawai‘i is legally adequate.

The State of Hawai’i Environmental Council issued a unanimous decision on Thursday effectively extending the ban aimed at reopening the collection of West Hawai’i reef fish for aquarium trade. The decision signaled a victory for reef advocates, many of whom expressed concern about the impacts of commercial aquarium collection on the ocean’s health for decades.

A $200 fine, plus court fees, was the sole penalty issued yesterday by the South Kohala Court against 1 of 2 defendants charged with poaching 550 reef fish for the aquarium pet trade.

After reviewing the applicant aquarium fishers’ proposal and testimony and deliberating for over four hours, the BLNR determined that the EIS did not adequately disclose the potential environmental impacts from the issuance of ten aquarium fishing permits for West Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi environmental and wildlife protection groups today urged Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige to immediately halt all extraction of marine animals for aquarium purposes.

The determination of the requirement for an EIS will initiate a 30-day public consultation for parties to comment on the action and to request to become consulted parties in the preparation of the draft EIS.

More than 130 recreational aquarium collection permits are now void under a new ruling issued in Hawaiʻi’s Environmental Court on Thursday.

Rene Umberger was documenting an aquarium trade wildlife collection operation on Thursday, May 8, when another diver pulled the air regulator from her mouth at 50 feet below the surface.

Here on Maui, the contentious issue of aquarium fishing in Hawaiian waters has drawn the attention of marine advocacy groups. The Maui-based group, For the Fishes, claims the industry had led to a drastic decline in the populations of reef fish in unprotected areas, has caused coral reef degradation, and depleted populations of some species.

It might be an upstream battle, but that won’t deter Rene Umberger from defending the denizens of the deep.

A second protest in as many weeks was held today on Maui as ocean advocates seek protection for Hawaii’s reef fish and coral reef. Removal of two reef species from Hawaii stores, protesters say, is not enough.

Demand for saltwater fish is what initially prompted the sale of the species in company stores. Now Petco has plans to remove Yellow Tangs from retail shops in the islands.