THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	17
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

urging the department of land and natural resources to develop and adopt administrative rules regarding the creation and enforcement of bag limits for ornamental reef fish.

     WHEREAS, the International Coral Reef Initiative has designated the year 2008 as the International Year of the Reef; and

     WHEREAS, various events are scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the International Year of the Reef that will focus on increasing awareness about the economic, social, ecological, and cultural value of Hawaii's coral reefs; and

     WHEREAS, the International Year of the Reef designation is an opportunity to bring attention to the threats that could or are currently endangering the health of Hawaii's marine ecosystems and propose and take action on international and local levels to mitigate or avoid these threats; and

     WHEREAS, the State is home to a majority of the nation's coral reefs, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument established in December 2006; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's reefs are vibrant, living organisms, which support over seven thousand known species of marine plants and animals; and

     WHEREAS, the ocean and its living creatures who occupy its reefs and waters held great significance and continue to hold great importance in Native Hawaiian culture; and

     WHEREAS, the health of Hawaii's reefs and the ecosystems associated with these reefs are an integral part to the health of Hawaii's largest economic engine – the visitor industry; and

     WHEREAS, large volumes of ornamental reef fish, which are all critical to the health of Hawaii's reefs, are being collected for aquariums, including herbivores such as yellow tang and other surgeon fish, Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, and butterfly fish; and

     WHEREAS, the collection of reef fish for aquariums are not effectively regulated and enforced as it is difficult to quantify the exact number of ornamental reef fish taken from the State's reefs; and

     WHEREAS, the development and implementation of rules regarding the regulation of taking ornamental reef fish for aquarium use will assist in the protection and conservation of Hawaii's reef fish and the health of their delicate ecosystems; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to develop and adopt administrative rules regarding the collection of ornamental reef fish for aquarium use from Hawaii's reefs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources develop and adopt administrative rules, which will place appropriate and reasonable limits on the collection of ornamental reef fish, including bag limits to aid in the restoration and preservation of reef fish in Hawaii's waters; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources; the Administrator of the Division of Conservation and Enforcement; the Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the Mayor, City and County of Honolulu; the Mayor, County of Hawaii; the Mayor, Maui County; the Mayor, Kauai County; the City Council Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council; the County Council Chairperson of the Hawaii County Council; the County Council Chairperson of the Maui County Council; the County Council Chairperson of the Kauai County Council; and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Ornamental Reef Fish; Administrative Rules; Creation