Rob Weltman

Open Ocean Aquaculture

The Project: Hawaii Ocean Technology’s (HOT) has been granted a Conservation District Use Application for its ahi aquaculture project. They plan to use 247 acres off the north Kohala coast of the island of Hawaii to hold 12 orb-like cages for growing tuna for export outside of Hawai’i. Read why ten eminent scientists recommend against instituting aquaculture fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico The Problems: Fish Farming promotes the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can … Read more

Two Maui streams restored

After years of essentially being drained dry and left for dead, two legendary streams on the Hawaiian island of Maui came back to life this week, thanks to the work of Earthjustice. The streams were diverted over a hundred years ago to irrigate sugar cane and pineapple plantations. Over time sugar and pineapple have faded in the islands, succumbing to cheaper foreign competition. This freed up the water to restore the streams. But the old … Read more

Biofuel Links

Massacres and Paramilitary Land Seizures Behind the Biofuel Revolution Armed groups in Colombia are driving peasants off their land to make way for plantations of palm oil, a biofuel that is being promoted as an environmentally friendly source of energy… U.N.: Not so fast with ethanol, other biofuels Unchecked growth could see new problems offset climate gains, report says. “Unless new policies are enacted to protect threatened lands, secure socially acceptable land use, and steer … Read more

WHERE HAVE HAWAII’S FISH GONE?

By Rene Umberger This article was originally featured in the Sierra Club Newsletter of September 2009 Increasingly snorkelers and divers in Hawaii are asking “Where have all the fish gone?” Reef fish decline can be attributed to several factors, however none weigh so heavily as the losses due to extraction, including collecting reef animals for the home tanks of hobby aquarists. According to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, “Severe overfishing for the aquarium trade … Read more

Letter Opposing Open Ocean Aquaculture Signed by 10 Scientists

August 3, 2009 Secretary Gary Locke U. S. Department of Commerce 14th Street and Constitution Ave. N. W. Washington, DC 20230 Delivered via e-mail to Jess Beck, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS at Jess.Beck@noaa.gov; and posted electronically to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov Re: Proposed Rule 0648-AS65: Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico Dear Secretary Locke: Thank you for the opportunity to provide a scientific perspective on the environmental risks … Read more

Honokowai Restoration Project

The& Honokowai Cultural Overlay stabilization project is a component of Ka`anapali 2020, which includes restoration and preservation of an ancient farming archeological site, as well as a Multi-Cultural Center. The project is supported by businesses, organizations and the people of Maui. Steady progress is being made at the work site. In October 2002, the Hawaii State Archaeological Society, with more than 20 archaeologists, inspected the project. They all felt Honokowai sites were among the best … Read more

Superferry

The Hawai`i Superferry presents a classic case of how not to do business in Hawai`i. Superferry’s lack of planning and violation of the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act has created a public debacle, inconvenienced their customers, and put Hawaii’s environment at risk. Three years ago the Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, and Kahului Harbor Coalition asked the Hawai`i Superferry and the Lingle Administration to complete an environmental review of the Superferry. Unknown environmental risks, concerned neighbor island … Read more