The Hawaii Board of Agriculture has recently greenlit changes to regulations aimed at curbing the spread of invasive species, a decision that followed a significant delay of nearly 20 months.
This postponement sparked public concern as the rule amendments are meant to assist the Agriculture Department in controlling the transportation of potentially infested agricultural goods, particularly those contaminated with pests like the coconut rhinoceros beetle, which has proliferated across the islands since May 2023.
Once these new regulations are formally implemented, they are expected to prohibit the transfer of infested materials such as soil and compost across island boundaries and will enhance inspection protocols.
Furthermore, the regulations will provide specific instances of invasive species to aid both the department and agricultural stakeholders in their efforts.
Even with the approval, there appeared to be a lack of complete satisfaction amongst both supporters and detractors of the rules following a recent meeting of the board.
Representatives from the agriculture sector expressed that the rules were perplexing, while some advocates felt that the measures were insufficiently robust.
Despite these mixed feelings, the board members, who reached a unanimous decision, recognized the urgency of effectively managing invasive species.
Dianne Ley, a board member from the Big Island, articulated the collective need for a comprehensive and prompt strategy to manage and ideally remove ongoing invasive threats.
Her remarks resonated with the themes being explored by federal experts on invasive species who are visiting Oahu this week to evaluate the impact these pests have on local communities.
They are compiling a report to guide U.S. governmental support for Hawaii as well as related territories in Micronesia.
During a meeting with federal advisers, local advocates urged quicker action against invasive species, pointing out weaknesses in Hawaii’s current response strategies and regulatory measures.
The board’s recent decision marks a pivotal move forward after a considerable hiatus since chairperson Sharon Hurd initially retracted the proposed changes in response to industry feedback.
The coconut rhinoceros beetles were first observed across various islands in the following months, while the presence of little fire ants on Oahu’s windward coast has raised alarms.
The movement of these pests has been largely attributed to the transport of compost, soil, and green waste, along with activities in the nursery sector.
In response, the board had previously approved interim regulations aimed at curtailing the transfer of materials that could harbor the beetles and ants.
On Tuesday, Hurd expressed her support for the newly established permanent regulations, which have kindled optimism among environmental advocates like Joseph Watt of the KEY Project, a community organization based in Kualoa-Heeia.
Watt emphasized the need for much stricter oversight regarding the movement of these materials.
Eric Tanouye, the President of the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, noted that members of his organization might be more receptive to the changes, provided there is clearer guidance from the Agriculture Department on compliance measures.
Comparatively, about 11 months prior, Tanouye expressed that the proposed revisions had the potential to severely hinder the agriculture sector.
Stephanie Easley from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, affiliated with the University of Hawaii, stated that while the newly approved changes are a positive development, they should serve as a foundation for further measures to enhance the department’s regulatory capacity.
Easley highlighted the necessity for additional regulations to ban the sale of infected plant materials.
Concerns were raised about the department’s ability to apply these rules effectively, especially given its history of inadequate staffing and funding.
However, this year’s passage of Act 231 allocated approximately $10 million to enhance the department’s work on invasive species and biosecurity following pressure from lawmakers.
Funding has led to the creation of ten pest control positions, which Plant Quarantine Branch Manager Jonathan Ho confirmed are in the process of being filled.
During the Tuesday meeting, board members requested monthly updates on the progress related to pest control as the agency works to finalize the rules and implement initiatives stemming from Act 231.
Before becoming official, the new regulations will be reviewed by the Small Business Regulatory Review Board and subsequently sent to the governor for final approval.
In related developments, federal officials and invasive species specialists are preparing a report for the National Invasive Species Council, which oversees pest management initiatives across various national bodies.
The federally appointed Invasive Species Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from Hawaii, is concluding a three-day meeting in Honolulu focused on these issues.
During this meeting, Hawaii officials alongside invasive species experts discussed the state’s challenges regarding invasive species management.
Chelsea Arnott, a program supervisor at the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, articulated the urgent need for more resources and personnel to enhance capacity for handling these issues.
The committee’s preliminary recommendations target several significant areas such as enhancing federal support for invasive management efforts on islands and bolstering island-specific infrastructure.
It also aims to address the shortcomings in rapid response efforts when invasive species are detected.
Acknowledging the implications of island ecosystems, the draft report remarked that “islands serve as a crucial indicator of the impacts of invasive species, not only regionally but also globally, and may foreshadow what continental ecosystems could face.”