Honolulu Council Bill Bans Shark Tours

Sepember 11, 2009

Release from: Chad Blair
Pacific Business News

The Honolulu City Council on Friday introduced a bill to ban shark tour operations.

Bill 67 calls for penalizing violators up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

The measure was introduced by Councilman Charles Djou, whose district includes Waikiki and Hawaii Kai.

A proposed shark tour business in Maunalua Bay was opposed by many Hawaii Kai residents earlier this year, primarily because they feared the business might imperil ocean recreation activities by drawing more sharks to the area.

Bill 67 acknowledges the importance of aquatic activities and notes as well that sharks have “great cultural, historical, and spiritual significance for many Native Hawaiians.”

The bill also states that shark tours “may be disruptive of ocean ecology and the natural environment.”

Earlier this month, the Maui County Council approved a bill prohibiting shark tours.

The measure, which has been delivered to Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares for her signature, would ban any business from operating in Maui that charges customers to enter the ocean to feed or attract sharks.

Currently, at least two shark tour operations — North Shore Shark Adventures and Hawaii Shark Encounters — operate on Oahu’s North Shore, where customers view sharks from a submerged cage.