STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2837

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3137

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR AKULE FISH MONITORING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the purpose of monitoring akule fish from Pearl Harbor to Ka‘ena point.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from three private individuals.  Testimony opposing the measure was received from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that development and recreational activities along the leeward coast of Oahu have affected the coastal system and the habits of migration of the akule.  Your Committee further finds that a tagging study of the akule will provide valuable information about approaches to protecting this valuable aquatic resource in light of commercial activity and traditional fishing practices along the coast.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair