STAND. COM. REP. NO. 468

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1159

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1159 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit aquacultural activities in the State that include the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of any species of octopus, except for wild caught octopuses, for the purpose of human consumption.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Animal Rights Initiative, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that existing law does not provide any guidelines or standards on octopus farming, which can pose significant risks for the transmission of certain pathogens that can have destabilizing effects on the food web and commercial fishing industries. This measure seeks to prevent environmental and public health risks by prohibiting the farming of certain non-wild-caught octopuses for human consumption.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1159 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 Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair