HONOLULU (CN) — A Hawaii bill to ban commercial aquarium fishing stalled in the state Senate on Thursday after several lawmakers opposed it, saying its protections would apply only to Oahu.
In the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, Senators Laura Keohokalole and Donovan Fukunaga voted in favor. Senators Angus McKelvey and Brenton Awa voted against. Senator Mike Lamosao was excused.
Awa, a Republican from Oahu, explained his vote. “I’m very concerned about this being limited to Oahu,” Awa, a Republican from Oahu, said, explaining his vote. “Considering the impact of this bill will come back to the Big Island, I am going to respectfully vote no.”…