STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3112

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2687

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2687, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a review of any administrative rule adopted after January 1, 2008, concerning:

     (1)  The protection and propagation of introduced and transplanted aquatic life; or

     (2)  The conservation and allocation of the natural supply of aquatic life;

and determine and report on, among other things, whether the rules have achieved their intended purpose, the impact on the general public and user groups, and the impact on the health of the resource.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii Nearshore Fishermen, The Nature Conservancy, and two individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Conservation Council for Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ocean Law and Policy Institute of the Pacific Forum CSIS, and Hawaii Audubon Society.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the Department of Land and Natural Resources establish a working group consisting of a commercial fisherman, recreational fisherman, and a scientist or educator having a background related to fishing.  The members of the working group shall, among other things, each be knowledgeable of deep sea and shoreline fishing methods, be residents of Hawaii, be knowledgeable practitioners of native Hawaiian cultural fishing practices, and have knowledge of current State and federal fishing laws and rules governing waters in and around the State.  The purpose of this working group is to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources in performing the review and reporting required by this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2687, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2687, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair