STAND. COM. REP. NO. 380

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 66

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 66 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHING SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit purposeful harassment with the intent to prevent the taking of fish by persons who are fishing in state waters.

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 nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from For the Fishes; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Big Island Reef Keepers Hui; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Kauhakō Ohana Association; Hawaii Marine Education and Research Center; Surfrider Foundation; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo and one individual.

Your Committee finds that existing state law protects fishers from harassment if they are taking fish pursuant to a freshwater game fishing license. However, your Committee finds that there is a need to extend these protections to all persons fishing in marine waters to promote the safety and enjoyment of individuals engaged in fishing activities. Therefore, this measure prohibits purposeful harassment with the intent to prevent the taking of fish by people who are fishing and extends protections against harassment to all persons fishing in marine waters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 66, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 66, S.D. 1, 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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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair