WHEREAS, the replenishment and conservation of valuable and unique coral reef and nearshore resources are of vital economic, environmental, cultural, and social importance to the people of Hawaii for conserving the islands' marine heritage for residents, visitors, and future generations; and

WHEREAS, using the wisdom passed down by kupuna for generations, traditional Hawaiian stewardship practices carefully managed the nearshore resources of ahupua`a and sustained their abundance, imposing wise limitations on harvest, such as prohibiting fishing during spawning seasons or within species' nursery areas; and

WHEREAS, today, many Hawaiian communities are revitalizing and implementing traditional marine stewardship practices by using the knowledge of cultural practitioners and experienced fishers to engage in sustainable subsistence harvest of marine resources; and

WHEREAS, marine reserves can enhance fishing opportunities and support a diversity of local businesses, including ecotourism, snorkeling, diving, photography, and environmental education; and

WHEREAS, marine reserves are geographically defined areas designated for the lasting protection of natural and cultural resources and managed to promote high biological productivity, diversity, and ecosystem integrity; and

WHEREAS, marine reserves are nationally and internationally recognized as a vital complement to nonspatial management tools for marine conservation; and

WHEREAS, recent research indicates that coordinated and integrated networks of reserves of sufficient size, habitat diversity, and geographic area are necessary to ensure adequate long-term sustainability of marine resources; and

WHEREAS, according to the American Association for the Advancement of the Sciences' Scientific Consensus Statement on Marine Reserves, the benefits of coordinated networks of marine reserves include:

WHEREAS, dramatic declines in the size, number, distribution, and quality of a wide variety of important and desirable native marine species and habitats have been observed by many members of Hawaii's fishing communities and other ocean users, and have been documented by scientists and government agencies; and

WHEREAS, regional and local involvement in the designation and management of nearshore marine resources, such as the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area, is one of many effective approaches to involving communities and user groups in replenishing Hawaii's marine resources; and

WHEREAS, to sustain abundant marine resources, many diverse governmental, conservation, scientific, and user groups support a national goal of creating marine reserves that will fully protect a minimum of twenty percent of United States coastal waters; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's existing highly protected marine areas are important conservation tools, but encompass less than one percent of Hawaii's valuable coral reef resources; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's fishing rules and small patchwork of marine resource management areas have proven insufficient to protect Hawaii's marine ecosystems and should be reviewed and incorporated into a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable statewide network of marine reserves; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's marine waters and resources, from the lagoons and estuaries to the seaward limits of the State's jurisdiction, are part of the State's public trust resources and must be managed to restore abundance and to maintain long-term sustainability; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Department) is authorized to manage the aquatic resources of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Department is authorized to establish areas where fishing and other activities associated with aquatic resources are managed for their conservation and protection; and

WHEREAS, the Department established the first Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) at Hanauma Bay, Oahu, in 1967 and since then has established nine other MLCDs and eighteen Marine Fisheries Management Areas statewide; and

WHEREAS, the Department has established new Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) at Kiholo Bay (Hawaii) in 1997, the West Hawaii Regional FMA (Hawaii) in 1998, at Port Allen (Kauai) in 2002, and at Nawiliwili (Kauai) in 2002; and

WHEREAS, the Department has also improved regulations at existing managed areas at Molokini Shoal (Maui), Hanauma Bay (Oahu), Manele Bay (Lanai), Hilo Bay (Hawaii), and Pupukea (Oahu); now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Department is requested to develop a plan for a statewide marine reserves network that will incorporate all existing reserves and protected areas including any future protected areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department shall work with interested community groups in developing the marine reserves network plan, which shall clearly state goals and management practices, and be subject to public review, requiring the Department to hold community meetings for public input; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department also report the results of existing efforts and programs to replenish fisheries, including but not limited to size and number limits on taking regulated fish species, regular site closures of fisheries, net size regulations, and limitations on methods of fishing in certain areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit the plan and any findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty 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 Governor and the Chair of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

Marine Reserves Network