HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	128
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE'S ENDANGERED MARINE ANIMALS.

     WHEREAS, marine and aquatic life is a vital and important source of food sustenance and living for the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the State has an interest in ensuring the survival of the marine life in the State; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has partnered with the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study marine life in the State, including endangered marine life species; and

     WHEREAS, currently, there is no information and no up-to-date report of endangered marine life species in Hawaii available to the public; and

WHEREAS, obtaining the most current and relevant information regarding endangered marine life is important to preserving the balance of the aquatic environment; and

     WHEREAS, a publicly available current report on endangered marine life species in Hawaii will enable the public to be more informed of populations of endangered marine life species and, thus, more respectful of their aquatic habitats; and

     WHEREAS, a public, current list of endangered marine life species would allow for more accurate and helpful fishing regulations, thereby allowing for more flexible regulations for non-endangered marine life species and stricter regulations on species that are currently endangered; and
     WHEREAS, an annual updated report from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding the State's current endangered marine life species would benefit the fishers in the State and other commercial and recreational users of the ocean; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is requested to make an annual report of the State's endangered marine life available to the public by posting the report on its website; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is requested to provide an annual report of the State's endangered marine life to the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to make the report available to the public by posting the report on its website; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Acting Administrator of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Report Title: 

United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Endangered Marine Animals; Report