Letters to the editor: 12-08-19

The Gold Coast losing grip on its namesake

The story goes that Kona used to be referred to as the Gold Coast because from the air the near shore coastline was solid gold with yellow tang.

Sadly, that is not what you see today.

Sunday Dec. 1, West Hawaii Today featured a large color photo of the rare, beautiful and precious yellow tang. The accompanying article told us that there are 14 commercial fishermen who propose a lifting of the ban on the reef fish collection trade that has been in place for the past two years.

My question to the 14 is when is enough enough? You had many years without any oversight. The taking of up to 1,000 fish a day, mostly yellow tang, by one collector is reported.

The aquarium fish collection trade is a cruel practice and utterly unnecessary. To subject the fish to the dangerous collection process followed by a perilous journey to an almost certain untimely death is tragic. Can’t you please just leave the reef fish right where they belong, in their native natural environment?

Might I suggest that in the past two years you have been doing something else to sustain yourself. Please continue with what you currently do rather than going back to taking reef fish. The pressure on the ocean and its inhabitants is well known and the timing of this proposal in my opinion shows an astounding lack of awareness.

We as a community must protect the creatures of the ocean to the best of our ability. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is taking comments on this subject until Jan. 7.

Patricia St. Clair

Kona