|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
104 |
|
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
requesting the department of land and natural resources to conduct a stock assessment of certain marine life to determine a baseline for future management measures.
WHEREAS, Hawaii's reefs are vibrant, living organisms, which support over 7,000 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 ecosystems associated with these reefs are an integral part to the health of Hawaii's visitor industry and to the more than 200 small businesses directly involved with the ornamental fisheries industry; and
WHEREAS, the ornamental fisheries industry is the most economically significant near-shore fishery in the state, and the commercial ornamental fish industry, as a whole, has experienced gross sales of more than 20 million dollars per year; and
WHEREAS, the ornamental fisheries industry understands the need to manage the resource in a sustainable manner and has engaged in extensive dialog with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, and adversarial groups; and
WHEREAS, the majority of collectors in the industry adhere to a code of conduct published by the Hawaii Tropical Fish Association and is focused on the need for continued sustainable harvest of Hawaii’s marine resources; and
WHEREAS, over the past several years, the Legislature has received a barrage of requests to take action on measures relating to fishing rights, and 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 fragile ecosystem; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a statewide stock assessment of the Ornate butterfly (Chaetodon ornatissimus), Reticulated butterfly (Chaetodon reticulates), Oval butterfly (Chaetodon lunulatus), Cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), and White spotted puffer (Canthigaster jactator) to determine a baseline for future management measures should they become necessary; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is also requested to conduct a statewide stock assessment of the Manybar goatfish – moano (Parupeneus multifasciatus), Convict tang –manini (Acanthurus triostegus), Sleek unicornfish - 'opelu kala (Naso hexacanthus), Paletail unicornfish – kala (Naso brevirostris), and Bluespine unicornfish – kala (Naso unicornis), currently prohibited to commercial aquarium fish collectors, to determine a baseline for future repeal of the prohibitions on the collection of these species; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tropical Fish Association be involved in the design of the baseline study to ensure that it accurately reflects the nature of the fishery; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources submit a report on the stock assessments to the Legislature twenty days prior to the start of the 2012 legislative session; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
|
|
OFFERED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
|
Relating to commercial ornamental fisheries industry.