STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1166-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2767

S.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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2767, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AGGREGATION DEVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make a one-time appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to bring the State's program of fish aggregation devices up to full capacity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc.; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the State's system of fish aggregation devices, maintained by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, provides enhanced fishing opportunities for island fishers. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, an average of fifteen fish aggregation devices go missing each year, and the Department has been unable to keep up with the replacement of missing devices. A one-time infusion of funds to replace off-station fish aggregation devices and to replace devices in the coming year would bring the Fish Aggregation Device Program back to full capacity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2767, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair