STAND. COM. REP. NO.  595-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2025

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2025 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convene a task force to identify the ten most vital marine species to Hawaii's reef ecosystems that would be vulnerable to extinction if the take level of those species increases and to assist the Department of Land and Natural Resources in determining possible actions to preserve those species.

Ho‘omana Pono, LLC submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Goes Fishing, and four individuals submitted testimony in opposition. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to December 24, 2088, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2025, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair