STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3217

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 57

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 57 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO REVIEW PROCEDURES RELATING TO AQUACULTURE IMPORTATION PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Board of Agriculture to review procedures relating to aquaculture importation permit applications and to submit a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kohala Mountain Fish Company, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and Mari's Gardens. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that local farmers and others are ready and able to bring additional aquaculture to the State that can assist the State in achieving local food production and sustainability goals; however, there are reports of several incidents in which those seeking to import aquaculture into the State have not received permits from the Department of Agriculture within the maximum time periods or within a reasonable amount of time after the expiration of the maximum time periods established in the Hawaii Administrative Rules. The intent of this measure is to obtain a more complete set of facts and circumstances regarding reported failures to adhere to the required time periods in order to determine an appropriate, well-informed solution.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 57 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair