Permits shark fins to be harvested from sharks processed on the ship if in equivalent processed portions.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the requirement that sharks be landed whole is a wasteful practice because of the rapid decomposition of sharks after death. The potential value of the dead shark can be preserved if it can be processed on the ship immediately after it is landed. There is a market for the meat of the shark, as well as its muscle, liver, and other organs. To develop a market for these shark products will take time and assurance that they are properly refrigerated and processed on board to be marketable.

The legislature further finds that due to the short shelf life of the blue shark after death and the lack of refrigeration space on a fishing vessel, a requirement to bring sharks landed "whole" is wasteful. An appropriate alternative would permit processing on the ship to take advantage of the marketability of the entire shark.

It is the purpose of this Act to permit shark fins to be harvested from not only those sharks landed whole, but from those sharks that are processed on the ship.

SECTION 2. Section 188-40.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) No person shall knowingly harvest shark fins from the territorial waters of the State, or land shark fins in the State, unless the fins were taken from a shark landed whole or in equivalent processed portions in the State."

SECTION 3. Section 188-40.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

"(f) As used in this section:

""Equivalent processed portions" means a total weight of fillets or trunks resulting from any fishing trip that is within the expected range of yield from whole shark weight harvested on any fishing trip."

"Land" or "landed" means when the shark or any part thereof is first brought to shore.

"Shark fin" means the raw or dried fin of a shark with the shark carcass removed.

"Whole" means the entire shark with its head and flesh intact, allowing for the removal of the blood, internal organs, and tail at sea."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.