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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
123 |
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TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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requesting the department of agriculture and department of land and natural resources to update and report to the legislature on their efforts to monitor and restrict the importation of invasive alien aquatic organisms and their efforts to eradicate these organisms.
WHEREAS, many intentional introductions of alien aquatic plants and animals are potentially harmful to both the environment and the economy of the State when they become established in bodies of marine, brackish, and fresh water; and
WHEREAS, these alien aquatic organisms enter the State through various means, including aquarium, aquaculture, nursery, and research imports, the United States Postal Service and commercial delivery services, and commercial airlines; and
WHEREAS, more than 350 invasive marine, brackish, and fresh water species have already become established in Hawaii, clogging lakes and wetlands, altering aquatic ecosystems and habitats, displacing native plant and animal species, and causing economic damage; and
WHEREAS, once invasive organisms become established in the aquatic environment, control is often difficult and expensive and eradication is frequently impossible without destroying native plant and animal species along with alien species; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) is the lead agency for purposes of preventing the intentional introduction of alien aquatic organisms into the State, but lacks:
(1) Expertise in limnology and marine biology;
(2) The authority to prevent the sale and transport of alien aquatic organisms within the State; and
(3) The responsibility for eradicating invasive organisms once they become established in the aquatic environment;
and
WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is the lead agency for purposes of eradicating alien aquatic organisms once they become established and has the expertise in limnology and marine biology, but no authority to prevent the intentional introduction of these organisms into the State; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that DOA and DLNR are requested to update and report to the Legislature on their efforts to:
(1) Monitor and restrict the importation of invasive alien aquatic organisms; and
(2) Eradicate these types of organisms;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOA and DLNR are requested to submit their report, which may include any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.
Report Title:
Alien Aquatic Organisms; DLNR; DOA