Report Title:

Aquaculture; Shark Monitoring

Description:

Appropriates $25,000 for the aquaculture development program to hire a contractor to tag and monitor sharks along the Leeward coast of Oahu from Pearl Harbor to Kaena Point. (HB417 HD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

417

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO SHARK MONITORING.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that open ocean aquaculture may eventually become a major source of jobs, investment, and products for Hawaii. Products can be exported out of the state, thereby bringing dollars into the state. However, there have been concerns regarding the incidents of shark attacks, specifically with respect to sharks that are attracted to open ocean cages. One particular area of concern is the aquaculture site near Ewa Beach.

To address this issue and to better understand shark activity, the legislature finds that there is a need to conduct a tagging and monitoring study to collect and interpret data about shark movements and habits of migration. The science and technology used to conduct such studies have proved successful in the past, and the results of such a study will provide valuable information in determining the threat of sharks to open ocean aquaculture operations and other ocean users.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the aquaculture development program to hire a contractor to tag and monitor sharks along the leeward coast of Oahu from Pearl Harbor to Kaena Point.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $25,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 for the aquaculture development program to hire a contractor to tag and monitor sharks along the leeward coast of Oahu from Pearl Harbor to Kaena Point.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii institute of marine biology of the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.