REPORT TITLE: 
Ocean Recreation


DESCRIPTION:
Imposes a two-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for
commercial marine mammal watching tours along the Waianae
coastline.  Requires a study.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2753
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to protect marine
 
 2 mammals in waters off the Waianae coastline of Oahu by:
 
 3      (1)  Imposing a two-year moratorium on the issuance of new
 
 4           permits for commercial marine mammal watching tours;
 
 5           and
 
 6      (2)  Directing the department of land and natural resources
 
 7           to:
 
 8           (A)  Determine the maximum number of commercial marine
 
 9                mammal watching tours that should be authorized to
 
10                operate in the future; and
 
11           (B)  Study the feasibility of issuing permits for
 
12                specific rather than unspecified ocean
 
13                recreational activities.
 
14      SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
 
15 upon the effective date of this Act, the chairperson of the board
 
16 of land and natural resources shall establish a moratorium on the
 
17 issuance of new commercial use permits to any person whose
 
18 operation is limited to conducting marine mammal watching tours
 
19 in waters located along the Waianae coastline of Oahu between
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 Kaena Point and Barbers Point.  Existing commercial use permits
 
 2 may be renewed; provided that not more than eight permits shall
 
 3 be outstanding at any given time.  The moratorium shall remain in
 
 4 force until June 30, 2002.
 
 5      SECTION 3.  The chairperson of the board of land and natural
 
 6 resources shall:
 
 7      (1)  Determine the maximum number of commercial use permits
 
 8           to be issued for marine mammal watching tours in waters
 
 9           along the Waianae coastline based on a determination of
 
10           the impact that such activities may have on marine
 
11           mammals in that region.  As part of this study, the
 
12           department of land and natural resources shall review
 
13           existing and on-going research about the effects that
 
14           human activity may have on marine mammals;
 
15      (2)  Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of issuing
 
16           commercial use permits for specific rather than
 
17           unspecified ocean recreational activities along the
 
18           Waianae coastline; and
 
19      (3)  Submit findings and recommendations to the legislature
 
20           no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
 
21           regular session of 2001.
 
22      SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
23 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much
 
24 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 to carry
 
25 out the purposes of this Act.
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
 2 land and natural resources.
 
 3      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
 4 
 
 5                        INTRODUCED BY:____________________________