It’s time to mobilize. PIJAC has submitted its “revised final environmental impact statement” to the Board of Land & Natural Resources. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their reefs. Please notify all you can that testimony will be crucial. Credentials and insight on aquarium extraction will be vital.

 

Testimony is key. Hawaii as a rich, cultural and tropical center. The hearing is this Friday, June 25. Email Testimony, it must be in a day in advance, by Thursday, June 24 to:

 

blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov

 

Begin testimony with “I am a Hawaii resident....” OR,

“After years of visiting, I have Hawaii in my heart....” or some such.

 

The RFEIS can be found here:

Read the Statement

 

Reference agenda item F.3, state your name and ask BLNR (Board of Land & Natural Resources) to REJECT the Revised Final Environmental Impact Statement (RFEIS). Say you are a Hawaii resident or visitor, and have Hawaii in your heart, in your own words. Pick 1 or 2 of the points below, and speak your mind. If you have credentials, say so:

 

The RFEIS states that aquarium collection will include 8 species, down from 40, as if saying it will make it so. Kona Coast history of poaching and devastation includes coral damage from anchors, chains, nets and collectors destroying corals to flush reef wildlife.

 

The RFEIS is STILL a wholly owned product of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) a D.C. lobbyist notorious for pressing Congress to allow puppy mills. The Hawaii RFEIS is STILL based on livelihood for 7 Hawaii collectors and revenue for the aquarium trade. Most data referenced is skewed, gathered by the Department of Land & Natural Resources, in cahoots with aquarium collectors, propagating the “sustainability” lie but never defining “sustainability.” The RFEIS claims revenue and jobs from aquarium collection but fails to assess impact on reef-based tourism - exponentially more revenue, jobs—and reef conservation.