Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1634 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permit processing of a shark on a fishing vessel and landing the shark in those processed portions.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual. Opposing testimony was received from Western Pacific Fisheries Coalition, Hawaii Audubon Society, and one individual. The University of Hawaii Environmental Center submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that portions of a shark, other than the fins, are marketable. However, since current law does not allow processing of the shark carcass on the fishing vessel, these portions become spoiled and unmarketable by the time it is landed on shore. This measure eliminates this waste and creates new economic opportunities for Hawaii's fishing industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by providing that the shark must be landed in compliance with federal regulations implementing section 307(1)(P) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, title 16 United States Code section 1857(1)(P).

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1634, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1634, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment.