STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3515

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.C.R. No. 102
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 102 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE NATIONAL MARINE
     FISHERIES SERVICE TO CLOSE THE NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
     LOBSTER FISHERY TO PROTECT THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN MONK
     SEAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the National
Marine Fisheries Service to close the Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands lobster fishery for at least three years to replenish the
Hawaiian monk seals' food source.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, the Hawaiian Political Action
Council of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Audubon Society.  Testimony in
opposition to this measure was received from the Western Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Council.  Oral testimony in
opposition was received from one individual.

     The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered marine mammal found
only in the Hawaiian Islands.  There are approximately 1,300 to
1,400 Hawaiian monk seals remaining.  This measure attempts to
encourage the increase of the Hawaiian monk seal population by
closing the lobster fishery for three years thereby sustaining
the food source of the Hawaiian monk seal.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3515
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     Your Committee amended this measure by changing the focus of
the measure from a request for the Fishery's three-year closure
to an expression of support of on-going studies to determine the
factors contributing to the declining numbers of the Hawaiian
monk seal and of continued efforts toward the recovery of the
Hawaiian monk seal.  A provision was also added to request DLNR
to monitor these efforts and report its findings to the
Legislature.  Finally, the title of the measure was amended to
reflect the foregoing amendments.

     Your Committee notes that due to deadline constraints, there
were difficulties encountered trying to accommodate all
viewpoints of the interested parties.  Your Committee notified
the testifiers to continue advocating their positions to the
Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 102, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs,
in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 102, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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