HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

68

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the division of aquatic resources and division of conservation and resources enforcement to collaborate with federal partner agencies to protect important state marine resources.

 

 


     WHEREAS, there have been increasing concerns over human and vessel-based interactions with spinner dolphins, other marine mammals, and sea turtles; and

 

     WHEREAS, spinner dolphins, other marine mammals, and sea turtles are indigenous wildlife; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources is responsible for managing, conserving, and restoring the State's unique aquatic resources, including indigenous wildlife and ecosystems, for present and future generations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement upholds the laws that serve to protect, conserve, and manage the State's unique and limited natural, cultural, and historic resources and has entered into a cooperative enforcement agreement with the Secretary of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, and law enforcement services under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources administrative rules regarding marine indigenous wildlife, particularly spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles, should be strengthened and updated to complement existing federal regulations; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources should consult with federal partner agencies to explore new measures that would expand upon existing measures to manage these indigenous wildlife; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State has received federal and private grants for the conservation of protected marine species, including Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, and false killer whales; and

 

     WHEREAS, there exists a number of potential funding sources from federal and private agencies that could help improve management of these indigenous wildlife, especially given limited state resources; 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 Division of Aquatic Resources is requested to strengthen administrative rules governing the protection of indigenous marine wildlife, particularly spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources and Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement increase collaboration with federal partners on federal rules related to spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources and Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement continue to explore additional mechanisms to access federal and private funding for the protection of marine mammals and sea turtles; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

DLNR; Marine Conservation; Spinner Dolphins; Sea Mammals; Sea Turtles