STAND. COM. REP. NO. 48-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1947
                                     H.D. 1
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean Recreation and Marine Resources, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1947 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHERIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to strictly limit the
possession, purchase, sale, or trade of shark fins by:

     (1)  Prohibiting that no person shall harvest for sale,
          possess for sale, buy, sell, or trade shark fins unless
          the fins were taken from a shark landed whole in the
          State;

     (2)  Stipulating that no person shall knowingly harvest for
          sale, possess for sale, buy, sell, or trade shark fins;
          and

     (3)  Establishing penalties including: the forfeiture of
          shark fins, commercial license, vessel, and fishing
          equipment; and administrative fines of not less than
          $5,000 and not more than $15,000.

     The Hawaii Fishermen's Foundation, the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs, the Hawaii Audubon Society, the Earthjustice Legal
Defense Fund, and several individuals testified in support of
this bill. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
supported the intent of this bill. The Hawaii Boaters Political

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 48-00
                                 Page 2

 
Action Association and BOATS Hawaii opposed this measure. The
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) and
the University of Hawaii's Environmental Center offered comments. 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made to this bill. 
   
     Your Committee finds that this bill will positively address
concerns over the wasteful and ecologically damaging fishing
practice of harvesting a shark for only its fin.

     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. 1947,as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as H.B. No. 1947, H.D. 1, 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