STAND. COM. REP. NO.  336

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1017

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1017 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRUSTACEANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal statutory language prohibiting the taking, killing, and possession of female spiny lobsters, Kona crabs, and Samoan crabs to instead allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to regulate the taking, killing, and possession of these animals through administrative rules.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Goes Fishing; HFACT; Cates Marine Service, LLC; and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that existing state laws hamper the Department of Land and Natural Resources' ability to manage the populations of spiny lobsters, Kona crabs, and Samoan crabs based on the best available scientific information.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has recently incorporated the relevant portions of state law into the Department's administrative rules, thus rendering the state statute unnecessary.  Resource management of these crustaceans solely through the administrative rule making process will allow the Department to manage such populations with much more flexibility and adaptability.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1017 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair