STAND. COM. REP. NO.  996

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 998

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 998, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOTTOMFISH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to:

     (1)  Allow bottomfish fishing in six of the existing Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas where the restriction is not supported by scientific evidence of environmental necessity; and

     (2)  Amend its rules on bottomfish management to include scientific information of environmental necessity as one of the criteria used to restrict a fishing area.

The Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc.; Hunting, Farming and Fishing Association; and many concerned individuals offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 998, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 998, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair