Hmmm- He is on a military base . I just messaged him and he said they are collecting off west Hawaii but as of today (here is link ):
Judge lifts injunction prohibiting aquarium fish permits off Big Island’s west coast
January 30, 2023 · 6:59 PM CST
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Hawaiʻi Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey P. Crabtree today lifted an injunction that prohibited the issuance or renewal of aquarium fish permits to commercial collectors in the
West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area.
In 2017, the state Supreme Court unanimously ordered a stop to commercial collection of aquarium fish in Hawaiʻi pending an environmental review.
An injunction on issuing or renewing aquarium fish permits in the rest of the state remains in effect.
The injunction, in the
Umberger v. Department of Land & Natural Resources case filed by opponents of commercial aquarium fishing in 2012, was lifted because an environmental review pursuant to the Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act is complete for the West Hawaiʻi management area, according to a press release from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Aquarium fishing in West Hawai‘i is not allowed simply because the injunction has been lifted, said lead counsel for the state, Deputy Attorney General Melissa Goldman, during the hearing.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it has not considered or issued any aquarium fishing permits for the West Hawaiʻi management area.
The West Hawaiʻi Regional Fishery Management Area is marked in gray. Map: Hawaiʻi State Division of Aquatic Resources
This management area extends along the west coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi from Ka Lae, Ka‘ū (South Point) to ‘Upolu Point, North Kohala and from the high-water mark on shore seaward to the limit of the state’s management authority, which extends to 3 miles offshore.
