THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

64

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with commercial tour operators and fishermEn in THE Waianae area to formulate a management strategy to protect the Hawaiian spinner dolphin population.

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian spinner dolphin is known to frequent both the inshore and offshore areas around west Oahu, most notably Makua and Keawaula; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian spinner dolphin is easily recognizable because of its acrobatic and high spinning leaps and somersaults; and

WHEREAS, unlike other species of dolphin, the Hawaiian spinner dolphin hunts and feeds at night which means that the spinner dolphin population rests during the daylight hours in the near-shore areas around Makua and Keawaula; and

WHEREAS, Hawaiian spinner dolphins have emerged as a popular tourist attraction in light of their acrobatic and high spinning behavior and there has been an increase in the number of commercial tour operators operating out of the Waianae Small Boat Harbor as well as the Ko 'Olina Marina; and

WHEREAS, commercial tour operators have organized frequent daylight viewing expeditions which allows tourists to observe these creatures up close, and the increase in the number of these expeditions not only disturbs the resting patterns of these creatures, but also increases the conflict between tour operators and commercial fishing operations in the area, as both parties compete for valuable dock space and access to fishing grounds in this area; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has testified before the Legislature that the most appropriate method to preserve and protect the Hawaiian spinner dolphin is by allowing the Department to formulate a comprehensive management plan for this area; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that it is requested that the Department of Land and Natural Resources formulate a comprehensive management plan designed to preserve and protect the Hawaiian spinner dolphin populations inhabiting the areas near and around the Waianae coast; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in formulating this management plan, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is strongly encouraged to meet with the tour operators and commercial fishermen that utilize the Waianae Small Boat Harbor and the Ko 'Olina Marina to gain valuable input and insight regarding the important issues and concerns that need to be taken into consideration in formulating this management plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in formulating this management plan, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is encouraged to adopt a multi-pronged approach which utilizes a variety of options, including a permitting process and administrative rule-making; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to provide an update to the Legislature regarding the progress in formulating this management plan no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2005, and a final management plan no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

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

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Management Plan by DNLR for Spinner Dolphins