STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2998

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2025

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE SPECIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a task force to identify the ten most vital marine species to Hawaii's reef ecosystems that would be vulnerable to extinction if the take level of those species increases and to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in determining possible actions to preserve those species.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Nearshore Fishermen, Wayne's Ocean World, and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's coral reefs are home to a wide variety of marine species, many of which are endemic to Hawaii, that play an important role for the State's inhabitants and provide residents and visitors physical, cultural, environmental, and spiritual sustenance.  As interest in the marine species of Hawaii increases, the number of species being removed from their native coral reefs also increases and makes marine species found in the coral reefs of Hawaii more vulnerable to extinction.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the task force membership includes the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or the Administrator's designee;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2016; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Economic Development, Environment, and Technology.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair