STAND. COM. REP. NO. 295

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1180
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean Recreation and Marine Resources, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1180 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow the Department of Land
and Natural Resources (DLNR) to limit the possession and sale of
certain marine life taken from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
(NWHI) by:

     (1)  Specifying that marine life taken from NWHI may not be
          regarded as "imported" animals; and
     
     (2)  Applying the same regulations to both NWHI and Hawaiian 
          Island marine life, as it deems necessary.
     
     DLNR and Hawaii Fishermen's Foundation testified in support
of this measure. Boats Hawaii Inc., testified in opposition. 
     
     Currently, both the Federal permit and the Department's
import license allow commercial fisherman to take and land spiny
and slipper lobsters from the NWHI.  However, a recent change in
the Federal permit now also authorizes the possession and sale of
female lobsters with eggs ("berried") and undersized lobsters,
some deemed unlawful under the Department's standards.  This
measure would then give the Department the authority to prohibit

 
 
 
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the sale of berried and undersized lobsters, therefore protecting
and conserving the species.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ocean Recreation and Marine Resources that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1180 and recommends that it pass
Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and
Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Ocean Recreation
                                   and Marine Resources,



                                   ______________________________
                                   Roy M. Takumi, Chair