STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1964

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 808

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 808, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SHARK AND RAY PROTECTION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish fines and penalties for knowingly capturing, taking, possessing, abusing, or entangling a shark, whether alive or dead, or killing a shark, within state marine waters;

 

     (2)  Expand the existing prohibition on knowingly capturing or killing a manta ray to apply to all rays; and

 

     (3)  Expand the prohibition regarding rays to include knowingly taking, possessing, abusing, or entangling a ray, whether alive or dead, or killing a ray, within state marine waters.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club of Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, For the Fishes, West Hawaii Humane Society, Water Inspired Conservation Group, One Ocean Conservation, Oahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee, Keiko Conservation International, Malama Mano, and twenty-two individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies, Captain Bob's Kona Fishing Charters, and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that sharks and rays are extremely important to ocean ecosystems because they keep the ecosystem balanced, regulate populations of other marine life, and ensure healthy fish stock and reefs.  Your Committees further find that article XI, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution provides that the State "shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources".  This measure will provide protection for sharks and rays by establishing and expanding prohibitions against knowingly capturing or killing them.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making it effective on September 1, 2019; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 808, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 808, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair