STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1532

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.C.R. No. 229

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 229 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICT DESIGNATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study on the Marine Life Conservation District designations.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Ocean Tourism Coalition.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that in response to the excessive taking of fish in coastal waters, the Legislature enacted Act 192, Session Laws of Hawaii 1955, to allow for the creation of Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCDs) that help conserve and replenish marine resources by limiting fishing and prohibiting certain uses entirely.  Your Committee further finds that there are currently ten MLCDs throughout the State, each with unique rules and regulations, and that an assessment would help inform whether additional or more uniform protections are necessary.  Therefore, this measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to study the effectiveness of MLCDs in carrying out their purpose and how MLCDs compare to other International Union for Conservation of Nature protected areas.

 

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 229 and recommends its adoption.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair