Hawaii’s harvesting of aquarium fish targeted by conservation group
Pacific island's supply of tropical fish for tanks around globe targeted by conservation group, which claims trade is damaging coral reefs
Half a million tropical fish are scooped up into nets every year from the waters off Hawaii's largest island and flown to aquariums across the globe.
Scientists say the aquarium fishery off the Pacific island is among the best managed in the world. But it has become the focus of a fight over whether it is appropriate to remove wild fish from reefs to put in fish tanks.
Activists have launched a campaign to shut down the buying and selling of fish for aquariums, saying the practice, seen from Hawaii to the Philippines, is destroying coral reefs.
Mike Long, of the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which is spearheading the campaign, said: "In this day and age, where the ocean faces a crisis ... there's absolutely no justification for a fishery for a hobby."
But a coalition of fishermen, state regulators and environmentalists say the group should focus its attention elsewhere.
They point to comprehensive aquarium fishery regulations and scientific research that shows fish stocks there are rebounding.