STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2337

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2536

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2536 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAY NETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the abandonment of lay nets used for fishing;

(2) Authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue permits for the use and possession of lay nets; and

(3) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a comprehensive, statewide lay net education and enforcement program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Coral Fish Hawaii, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources regulates lay net fishing through detailed restrictions on net dimensions, mesh size, soak time, time of day, frequency between sets, location, water depth, and inspection requirements. Your Committee further finds that all lay nets are required to be registered with the Department and marked with identification tags and surface buoys. However, your Committee additionally finds that despite these detailed regulations, which are intended to ensure responsible use of lay nets, the irresponsible use of lay nets continues with adverse impacts to fishery resources and protected species. This measure will make the abandonment of lay nets unlawful, allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue permits for the use of lay nets, and establish a lay net education program which will curb the irresponsible use of lay nets in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2536 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair