Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 136 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the National Marine Fisheries Service to establish an experimental swordfish fishery to adopt alternative turtle mitigation measures proposed by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, to give Hawaii fishermen an opportunity to devise turtle-friendly fishing gear and methods during the period, and to request a delay in the closing of the Hawaii longline fishery on March 15, 2001.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the closures have created a hardship for the longline fishing industry and related businesses, which in turn, have had a negative impact on the State's economy. Your Committee is supportive of the efforts to reduce turtle hooking, but believes it is important to achieve some balance between the protection of natural resources and economic conditions.

Your Committee has amended this measure to delete the request to delay closing the Hawaii longline fishery on March 15, 2001, and has amended the title to reflect this change.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 136, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1.