HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

229

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

PROPOSED

 

 

 

 


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANAGING THE COMMERCIAL TAKING OF AQUARIUM FISH.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii is known for its beautiful reef environment; and

 

WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that Hawaii's marine resources are proactively managed to protect our reef and fish populations in the future; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is important to preserve the long-term sustainability of aquatic life and to manage Hawaii's commercial fisheries at sustainable levels; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources's Report on the Findings and Recommendations of Effectiveness of the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area, continued expansion of the aquarium fish collecting industry would not be sustainable; and

 

     WHEREAS, the report recommended measures that should be taken, such as a limited entry aquarium fish permit program, to curtail possible unsustainable expansion of commercial aquarium fish taking in the future; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to establish a working group to provide recommendations on managing the commercial taking of aquarium fish; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

 

     (1)  Make recommendations for the establishment of a limited entry permit program for the commercial taking of aquarium fish;

 

     (2)  Make recommendations for the development of administrative rules to be adopted that establish bag limits for the commercial taking of aquarium fish;

 

     (3)  Determine the feasibility of issuing separate permits for commercial fishing and the commercial taking of aquarium fish;

 

     (4)  Determine an appropriate fee structure for a commercial taking of aquarium fish permit;

 

     (5)  Identify potential enforcement issues related to administrative rules regulating the taking of aquarium fish;

 

     (6)  Explore measures to maintain current sustainability levels and limit expansion of overfishing; and

 

     (7)  Examine any other pertinent issues related to the commercial taking of aquarium fish; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following persons are requested to participate in the working group:

 

     (1)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, who is requested to serve as the chairperson of the working group;

 

     (2)  A marine biologist from the Aquatic Resources Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to be appointed by the chairperson of the working group;

 

     (3)  A representative from the conservation marine resources industry, to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

 

     (4)  A fishing permit holder in West Hawaii, to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

 

     (5)  A fishing permit holder in Oahu, to be invited by the chairperson of the working group;

 

     (6)  A representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be invited by the President of the Senate; and

 

     (7)  A representative from the West Hawaii Fisheries Council, to be invited by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources who, in turn, is requested to widely distribute the Concurrent Resolution to the other entities mentioned therein and to other interested persons.

Report Title: 

AQUARIUM FISH WORKING GROUP