STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1455

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.C.R. No. 208

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 208 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII FACILITIES THAT HOLD CAPTIVE CETACEANS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES TO DISCONTINUE BREEDING AND TO PHASE OUT CAPTIVITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure urge facilities in Hawaii to end captive breeding programs and to phase out captivity.

     The Conservation Council for Hawaii, For the Fishes, The Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, West Hawaii Humane Society, Belle Isle Review, 111k+Petition Supporters, Miracle March to Protect the Cetaceans, Raw Dog Hawaii, Maui Island Mermaids LLC, Marine Intelligent Action LLC, Water Inspired Conservation Group, One Ocean Diving, Cetacean Society International, Triumph Donnelly Studios LLC, Aloha Animal Advocates Org., Keiko Conservation, Luckydove Productions, Oceanic Preservation Society, Ojai Indivisible, SPARE Inc., VOTO and numerous individuals provided testimony in support of the measure.

Sea Life Park Hawaii, Dolphin Quest Hawaii, Dolphin Quest Oahu, Oceanografic Foundation, Animal Behavior Management Alliance, Chicago Zoological Society, American Humane, IMATA, Alliance of Marine mammal Parks & Aquariums and several individuals opposed this measure. 

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Sea Shepherd, Humans for Oceans, DolphinProject.com, and several individuals provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by providing an exception for scientific research and educational purposes and by making technical non-substantive changes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 208, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 208, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair