STAND. COM. REP. NO. 577

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1090
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.B. No. 1090 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LICENSE FOR IMPORTED
     MARINE LIFE,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department
of Land and Natural Resources to specify that marine life taken
from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) may not be regarded
as "imported" and may be subject to the same state regulations
that apply in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI).

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council testified in
opposition.  The Boat Owners Association of The State of Hawaii
submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that recent changes in the federal
management plan for lobsters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
have impacted local markets as well as the lobster stock shared
by the NWHI and the MHI.  While your Committee is supportive of
the intent of this measure to protect both Hawaii's marine
resources and its consumers, the members were encouraged that
DLNR requested an opportunity to work with the Western Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Council to discuss the Council's
objections to the measure.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 577
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     Your Committee notes that subsequent to the hearing, the
parties did meet, and as a result of these discussions, the
Council has withdrawn its objections to the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 1090 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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