All eyes are on Superferry — or, more precisely, on the car trunks and truck flatbeds that come aboard and then roll off the cargo dock onto O'ahu and Maui roads.

The problem is that other, busier cargo lanes in the Islands and into the state from overseas are not being scrutinized for invasive species or other violations with the same degree of care. And the results of the Superferry monitoring strongly suggest this needs to change.

Though the intercepted 'opihi, lobsters and other items were on the self-imposed contraband list, few violated state conservation or agricultural laws. While that's good, the fact remains that Superferry represents only a tiny fraction of the cargo traffic. The state's guard is down on other maritime and air cargo, and if only a few invasive species slips through the net, the damage done to the Isle environment can be great.

The ferry experience underscores the importance of House Bill 2843 and why it should become law.

The bill would assess an inspection fee on freight passing through air and sea ports. This fee, 50 cents per 1,000 pounds of freight, would be passed along in the freight charge.

In the case of airlines, passengers with luggage would pay. Air carriers, already compelled to raise fares, are concerned about the impact of the new fee, but it's negligible compared to fuel surcharges.

And while transportation costs are already a huge chunk of rising prices for food and other merchandise, the inspection of freight simply must be viewed as a necessary cost of doing business.

The new inspection fee is expected to generate about $6 million annually, funding inspection operations at airports and harbors.

Another measure, Senate Bill 2850, would fund more joint inspection facilities like the one at the Kahului Airport. This center coordinates oversight by state and federal agriculture departments as well as customs inspections. Such a facility would fit well in the overall improvements planned for the Honolulu International Airport.

Gov. Linda Lingle should sign that bill and HB 2843 to boost invasive species protection. In an era when the brown tree snake has wreaked terrible damage in Guam, a state that treasures and, indeed, markets its natural environment can't afford that risk.