STAND. COM. REP. NO. 718-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1751

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii's marine resources and effectively manage thirty percent of the State's nearshore resources by 2030 by requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Department), through its Division of Aquatic Resources, to establish a network of marine protected areas in coastal fishing areas with the most critical fish depletion.

The Department, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Dolphin Quest, LOST FISH Coalition, Hawaii Fishing & Boating Association, The Uhu Conservancy, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, and numerous individuals supported this measure. Hawaii Goes Fishing and two individuals opposed this measure. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department, through its Division of Aquatic Resources, to designate a network of marine managed areas, rather than marine protected areas;

(2) Clarifying that the network of marine managed areas shall consider and may include, but not be limited to, no-take areas and herbivore replenishment areas or other marine management designations in areas identified to provide the most benefit to the State's nearshore marine resources;

(3) Requiring the Department to consider stakeholder input when determining the location of areas to be designated as marine managed areas;

(4) Requiring the Department to submit its report to the Legislature on its progress towards the goal of effective management of thirty percent of the State's nearshore resources by 2030 to help ensure the survival of Hawaii's nearshore ecosystems for future generations prior to the Legislature's Regular Sessions of 2019, 2020, 2025, and 2030; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair