STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1406-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2284

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish provisions relating to the Department of Agriculture's governing of the business of aquaculture;

(2) Grant exclusive property rights to persons who lawfully obtain the cultured progeny of wild plants and animals by brood stock acquisition;

(3) Authorize the Department of Agriculture to regulate the transportation, purchase, possession, and sale of specific aquaculture products as necessary to protect indigenous species;

(4) Require the Department of Agriculture to prepare programmatic environmental impact reports; and

(5) Appropriate funds to carry out the purposes of this measure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and Hawai‘i Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that diversification of the State's economy is necessary to lessen economic dependence on tourism. The Department of Agriculture indicates that there is tremendous growth potential for the aquaculture industry due to the fact that seafood demand outpaces supply, with world fishery resources quickly being depleted. This measure promotes the State's economic development by enabling the Department to have regulatory authority for aquaculture and provides a pro-development framework that minimizes negative effects on the environment through monitoring and reporting using a science-based approach.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair