STAND. COM. REP. NO.  577

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1339

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1339 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SHARK AND MANTA RAY PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is protect marine resources by:

(1)  Creating administrative penalties for knowingly capturing, killing, or taking any shark or manta ray within state marine waters; and

(2)  Providing exemptions for native Hawaiian gathering rights and cultural practices, and for research or public safety reasons.

The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, West Hawaii Humane Society, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Living Ocean Productions, and many individuals supported this measure.  The Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and an individual supported the intent of the measure.  Several individuals opposed the measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Adding an exemption for any person who is protecting themselves from an attack by a shark;

(2)  Authorizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules for the protection of manta ray species; and

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

Your Committee notes that although the intent of the Committee is to provide protection to all rays that are threatened with extinction, this measure is limited by its title to encompass only manta rays. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1339, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1339, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair