Reef fishes on Kona reef: Raccoon Butterflies may no longer be collected under the new West Hawaii White List rules. Image: Brocken Inaglory/Wiki Commons
West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area
WHITE LIST
After several years of debate, the State of Hawaii in December, 2013, passed a new set of Rules governing the harvest (“take”) of marine species from the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area. This area falls along the west coast of the island of Kona or Big Island, and is the largest source of marine fishes for the aquarium trade. According to a statement from the Hawaii Department of Land and Aquatic Resources: “This measure will help protect populations of species that are rare, potentially overfished and/or are not suitable for home aquariums. This rule will reduce the threat of population decline of rare species, a major concern of stakeholders interested in the the long-term health and biodiversity of our coral reefs.” The Rule does not affect other places where aquarium fishers work, notably the island of Oahu.
The following are the only marine fishes that may be legally collected for sale in the marine aquarium trade. Species not on the list may not be taken in this area.
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
REFERENCES
New Rules for West Hawaii “AQ” Collectors
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