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Yellow tangs are popular fish taken by aquarium collectors. Environmental groups and marine wildlife advocates applaud a court ruling this week emphasizing and clarifying that all commercial aquarium fishing is now banned in Hawaii until the industry has completed the environmental review process. MEL MALINOWSKI photo
Environmental groups and marine wildlife advocates rejoiced after a court ruling this week made it clear that all commercial aquarium fishing is now banned in Hawaii without environmental review.
“There has been much relief and celebration amongst those who have long fought for this moment,” said Rene Umberger, founder and executive director of For The Fishes, a Kihei-based group that works to restore and protect fish populations and coral reef habitats. “Given the dire impacts of climate change on Hawaii’s reefs, with the majority of them projected to be lost within the next few decades, this is monumentally important.”