HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

114

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO DESIGNATE THE STATE WATERS IN THE NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS TO PROVIDE THE MOST STRINGENT PROTECTIONS TO THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS IN THAT REGION.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands possess the most isolated coral reefs in the world with the highest proportion of marine endemic species, as well as many valuable and unique natural and cultural resources, most of which are highly vulnerable; and

WHEREAS, these 1,200 miles of coral islands, seamounts, banks, and shoals are unquestionably the healthiest and most extensive coral reefs in the United States; and

WHEREAS, this vast area of exceptional coral reef ecosystems supports more than 7,000 marine species, of which approximately half are unique to the Hawaiian archipelago; and

WHEREAS, thus far, only a few invasive aquatic species have become established in this region, and additional vessel access to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is highly likely to cause further contamination by alien species from the main Hawaiian Islands; and

WHEREAS, the state waters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands need to be set aside as a fully protected state marine refuge to preserve in perpetuity their unique and fragile ecosystems, habitats, and communities of flora and fauna, as well as their areas of traditional Hawaiian cultural significance; and

WHEREAS, a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands state marine refuge would also protect the foraging grounds of the monk seal, the nesting green sea turtle, and the multitude of seabirds that make this remote area their home; and

WHEREAS, designating state waters in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a state marine refuge would also protect valuable nursery and spawning grounds of many species of fish and invertebrates and may help replenish depleted populations in the main Hawaiian Islands; and

WHEREAS, demonstrated benefits of fully protected state marine refuges include:

(1) Long-lasting and often rapid increases in abundance, diversity, and productivity of fish populations;

(2) An increase in fish size and reproductive output within the refuges;

(3) Increases in size and abundance of harvested species in areas adjacent to refuges, also known as the "spill-over" effect;

(4) Balanced, healthy ecosystems characterized by decreased mortality, decreased habitat destruction, and decreased extinction; and

(5) Sites for collecting valuable fishery-independent data;

and

WHEREAS, establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a fully protected state marine refuge would complement the existing federal Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, facilitate the melding of state and federal waters into a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and provide the support needed to designate this exceptional region as a world heritage site, which would benefit Hawaii's economy; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is urged to designate the state waters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to provide the most stringent protections to the fragile ecosystems in that region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a fully protected state marine refuge; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DLNR is requested to report its progress in designating these state waters, including any needed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge, DLNR