STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1634

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 127

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 127 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO ADOPT THE AGREEMENT UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA ON THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION AND SUPPORT LEGISLATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND POLICY MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVELS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State to adopt the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction and support legislative, administrative, and policy measures to implement the Agreement at the State and county levels.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition and one individual.

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

Your Committees find that nearly two-thirds of the oceans are global commons. The majority of this natural resource therefore belongs to no one in particular but is the responsibility of all to safeguard against threats such as climate change, pollution, and overuse. The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction is an initiative offering measures to conserve vast geographical areas so that all may continue to benefit from their use, with a focus on marine genetic resources and their digital sequence information. This measure urges the State to adopt the Agreement and support legislative, administrative, and policy measures for its implementation to promote the conservation and sustainable use of valuable shared natural resources.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 127 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair