Hawaii - Why Agriculture inspection when returning to mainland?

Hi all,
I have traveled to Hawaii and other insular possessions (like Puerto Rico) many times, and a question has occurred to me about the Agriculture inspections conducted upon DEPARTURE.

As you know, upon landing in Hawaii, you fill out an agriculture declaration card to attest to the fact that you are not introducing any dangerous pests into the islands' delicate ecosystem. That part makes total sense.

However, what I don't understand is why there is Agriculture inspection upon departure from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc. If Hawaii has such a fragile and protected ecosystem, why would it matter if you bring an apple back to the mainland? Wouldn't the islands have a much higher standard for pest control relative to the mainland, and thus whatever items you might have would pose no threat?

Another point: if the concern is about taking potentially contaminated produce from the tropics back to the mainland....well, most tropical produce cannot survive or be grown in the mainland anyway except in a few areas like south Florida, Louisiana, etc. (Try to plant a mango pit to grow a tree in Chicago and you won't be too successful!)

Just wondering. Thanks!

However, what I don't understand is why there is Agriculture inspection upon departure from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc. If Hawaii has such a fragile and protected ecosystem, why would it matter if you bring an apple back to the mainland? Wouldn't the islands have a much higher standard for pest control relative to the mainland, and thus whatever items you might have would pose no threat?

Another point: if the concern is about taking potentially contaminated produce from the tropics back to the mainland....well, most tropical produce cannot survive or be grown in the mainland anyway except in a few areas like south Florida, Louisiana, etc. (Try to plant a mango pit to grow a tree in Chicago and you won't be too successful!)

Just wondering. Thanks!


It works both ways....

The reason isnt because of a "fragile" ecosystem....its that you dont want foreign bugs/pests invading the islands...similarly the mainland doesnt want the local pests of Hawaii or Peurto Rico to come to the continental US.

The non-native species could have a serious competitive advantage and wipe out the local ecosystem because they dont have native predators....

A few other example.....

In the Potomac river a few years ago in the DC area someone likely from Asia got a pet Asian fish and they got released to the potomac river basin and flurished because there wasnt a native preditor to it. The local birds and other fish know the local fish and what they smell like et all...but this one doesnt pick up on their radar.

I think ot was Hawaii ---a foeign snake population was introduced which wiped out the native bird population it fed on.

This is also a concern as you start to here about stuff coming ashore on the west coast from Japan after the Tsunami last year. The big concenr is that these objects are bringin foreign species intot the local ecosystem causing major problems in the food chain.

Thanks!