HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	116
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE  RESOLUTION

requesting the department of land and natural resources to determine additional areas of state waters to be appropriately designated as marine-protected areas.

     WHEREAS, the waters surrounding our island state contain one of the richest, most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet; and

     WHEREAS, the replenishment and preservation of these rare marine resources are of vital economic, environmental, cultural, and social importance to the people of Hawaii, and are critical to the preservation of the state's marine heritage for residents, visitors, and future generations alike; and

     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

     WHEREAS, this decline has also been documented by various public and private agencies and scientists; and

     WHEREAS, those who depend on healthy marine ecosystems share a common, long-term interest in the vigorous replenishment of fish and other marine species; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's existing marine-protected areas, which include marine life conservation districts, marine-based natural area reserves, fisheries management areas, and fisheries replenishment areas, serve as important conservation tools; and

     WHEREAS, the existing marine-protected areas only constitute a small portion of the waters surrounding Hawaii, including a small portion of our valuable coral reef resources; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary for Hawaii's patchwork of marine-protected areas system to undergo a thorough review of how it may be improved, and made more effective and inclusive; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is requested to:

(1)  Establish a working group consisting of representatives from both government and private agencies and organizations, who are knowledgeable or experienced in marine-protected areas; and

(2)  Research, investigate, and determine additional areas of state waters that may be appropriately designated as marine-protected areas;

and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Marine-protected areas; Report