STAND. COM. REP. NO. 610

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1123

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1123 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to perform a peer-reviewed, standardized fishing stock assessment based on defined data metrics prior to adopting any new rules that regulate fishing.

Lokahi Fishing, Coral Fish Hawaii, Hawaii Goes Fishing, Hunting Farming and Fishing Association, and several individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Kipahulu Ohana. Inc., Mālama Maunalua, Hui Malama o Mo‘omomi, Keiko Conservation International, and a few individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring consultation with Native Hawaiian traditional and cultural gatherers and practitioners prior to any rule adoption;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1123, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1123, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair