Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1713 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of any net to take or kill fish in Kahului Harbor.

The Mayor of Maui County and numerous concerned citizens supported this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) opposed this measure.

Reefs and marine life are an important natural resource for the State of Hawaii, serving as both a food-source and economic stimulant. Maintaining the viability of our marine ecosystem through the regulation of activities such as net fishing within Kahului Harbor is an important issue that not only affects today's citizens, but future generations as well.

Although your Committee understands the concerns raised by DLNR regarding the process they are currently undergoing to regulate nets on a statewide basis and that the attempt to regulate the use of any net in Kahului Harbor could be accomplished through administrative rules, your Committee finds that this is an important matter deserving further consideration. Your Committee hopes that assurances received from DLNR that it will contact and discuss this matter further with the Maui Mayor and citizens who supported this bill will be carried out and that this issue can be discussed further by the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs as it goes through the legislative process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1713 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs.