STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3005

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2907

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2907 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR FERAL PIG ABATEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the control and abatement of the feral pig population, including the purchase of box traps, baits, and corrals.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Conservation Council for Hawaii and Hawaii Audubon Society.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  One individual expressed concern over the lack of community participation in feral pig eradication programs.

 

     Your Committee finds that recently, there has been an increase in the feral pig population in certain areas, especially in areas where public hunting is limited.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources has responded by creating special hunts and opening new areas to allow public hunting to be used to assist the control efforts.  Expanded use of trapping methods would increase the success of the program, particularly in urban areas where public hunting must be limited.

 

     Your Committee further finds that while the Department of Land and Natural Resources has worked with the Oahu Pig Hunters Association and private land owners to control feral pig populations, the participation of interested groups promoting humane control methods has been limited.  Your Committee strongly recommends that the Department of Land and Natural Resources meet with representatives of various interested parties to further develop its feral pig eradication program.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2907, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair