STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1196-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2717

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2717, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SHARK PROTECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect sharks by establishing an offense of knowingly capturing, possessing, abusing, entangling, or killing a shark in state marine waters, with certain exemptions.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Aloha Animal Advocates, Friends of Hanauma Bay, The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, Animal Rights Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter, Moana Ohana, For the Fishes, and fifteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from seven individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, One Ocean Organization, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that sharks play important ecological roles in the ocean and are valued figures in Hawaiian culture.  The benefits of maintaining viable shark populations greatly outweigh any value that would be gained by capturing, abusing, or killing these species.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the exemption for special activity permits or research permits by removing the research oversight and review requirements; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 S.B. No. 2717, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2717, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair