STAND. COM. REP. NO.  372-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2409

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2409 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage commercial aquaculture ventures in the state by providing favorable lease terms for public lands.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc., Hawaii Aquaculture Association, and East Oahu County Farm Bureau testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Food & Water Watch, and a concerned individual opposed this bill.

     Your Committees has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing the allowable maximum term of 65 years for existing aquaculture operations that have a favorable track record of ten years or more; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2409, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2409, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Chair