73
THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                                
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AND
   IMPLEMENT A COORDINATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR
   ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.



 1       WHEREAS, Hawaii's vast ocean area contains bountiful
 2   natural resources and productive fisheries that have great
 3   commercial, recreational, social, cultural, and sustenance
 4   values to Hawaii's people; and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, some of these fisheries are in decline and in
 7   critical need of effective conservation, habitat enhancement
 8   and management measures to prevent failure of the fisheries,
 9   and to maintain the wise use of resources for future
10   generations; and
11   
12       WHEREAS, the nearshore fisheries have shown the most urgent
13   need for conservation, habitat enhancement, and management for
14   a variety of species; and
15   
16       WHEREAS, scientific evidence based on commercial landings
17   data from the State, evaluated by federal agencies, including
18   the United States National Marine Fisheries Service and the
19   Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, have shown
20   a decline in the landings, catch rate, and revenues of some
21   nearshore species; and
22   
23       WHEREAS, the scientific indicators of overfishing, namely
24   the percentage of sexually immature fish in the landings, the
25   spawning potential ratio, and the catch per unit of effort,
26   have suggested that several species are dangerously close to
27   being overfished; and
28   
29       WHEREAS, the health of these populations are critical for
30   sustenance and recreational and commercial fishing as well as
31   tourism; and
32   
33       WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is responsible for the
34   protection, restoration, and allocation of Hawaii's marine
35   resources within three miles of Hawaii's shoreline; and
36   
37       WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has
38   been reluctant and unable to take management action to prevent
39   further decline of these fisheries in the Hawaiian Islands,

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   citing the lack of adequate scientific data to demonstrate a
 2   need for more funds and management; and
 3   
 4       WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has the largest reef
 5   ecosystems in the United States, amounting to 85 percent of the
 6   total national reef habitat; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, the creation of artificial reef habitat has shown
 9   demonstrative results in restoring fish populations; now,
10   therefore,
11   
12        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
13   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, that the
14   Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested, along
15   with the private sector, military, and other concerned
16   organizations to form a Task Force with the purpose of using
17   each of the aforementioned organizational resources to:
18   
19        (1)  Facilitate and create artificial near-shore habitats
20             where appropriate and desired by the local community;
21             and
22   
23        (2)  Create an adopt-a-reef program;
24   
25   and
26   
27        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be appointed
28   and approved by the Division of Aquatic Resources of the
29   Department of Land and Natural Resources to include a
30   representative of each of the following:
31   
32        (1)  The artificial reef coordinator, the Division of
33             Aquatic Resources;
34   
35        (2)  Clean water branch, the Department of Health;
36   
37        (3)  The Division of Boating and Recreation;
38   
39        (4)  The United States Navy;
40   
41        (5)  The National Marine Fisheries Service;
42   
43        (6)  Marine safety office, the United States Coast Guard;
44   
45        (7)  The Construction Industry of Hawaii;
46   

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        (8)  The Maritime Industry of Hawaii;
 2   
 3        (9)  Commercial Fishers;
 4   
 5       (10)  Recreational Fishers;
 6   
 7       (11)  Dive charter operators or employees;
 8   
 9       (12)  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
10   
11       (13)  Native Hawaiian Fishing Communities;
12   
13       (14)  The Environmental Community;
14   
15       (15)  An appointee to be named by the Speaker of the House;
16             and
17   
18       (16)  An appointee to be named by the President of the
19             Senate;
20   
21   and
22   
23        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and
24   Natural Resources report the findings and recommendations of
25   the Task Force to the Legislature no later than twenty days
26   before the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and
27   
28        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
29   Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, the
30   Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairperson of the
31   Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Director of Health,
32   the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Director
33   of the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Coast Guard
34   Commander of the 14th Coast Guard District, and the Chairperson
35   of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.