House lawmakers have scrapped an outright ban of aquarium fishing in Hawaiian waters but are keeping a measure alive that would add certain restrictions.

The Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs, chaired by Rep. Kaniela Ing, has received more than 4,000 pages of testimony on bills concerning the aquarium trade.

The committee went through a marathon hearing Wednesday, caught their breath and came back the next day to take action.

Thousands of pages of testimony on aquarium bills sit stacked in a Capitol conference room, Wednesday.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The committee indefinitely deferred House Bill 606, which would have placed a 10-year moratorium on the taking of aquarium fish, and similarly killed House Bill 883, which would have banned selling any aquarium fish subjected to cruel treatment.

But after making substantial amendments, they passed House Bill 873. The measure originally banned sale of aquatic life for aquarium purposes, but it was changed to allow it so long as Department of Land and Natural Resources administrative rules are followed, including bag limits and limited entry.

The committee also passed House Bill 511, which as amended prohibits the “purposeful” harassment of fishermen, including people collecting fish for aquariums.

More details will be available as soon as the committee report is filed.