THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

109

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of land and natural resources to adopt administrative rules prohibiting recreational boating activities in marine life conservation districts.

 

 


     WHEREAS, a grounded vessel off of Honolua Bay, Maui, has caused a fuel spill, leaking diesel into the water at one of Maui's most well-known marine sanctuaries; and

 

     WHEREAS, the vessel was initially anchored within three-hundred yards of Honolua Bay, which is an area designated as the Honolua-Mokuleia Bay Marine Life Conservation District; and

 

     WHEREAS, Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCDs) are established to protect delicate ocean ecosystems pursuant to chapter 190, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources regulates certain activities in these areas, such as requiring permits for the taking of marine life for scientific, education, or other public purposes; and

 

     WHEREAS, while the Department, subject to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may adopt rules for the regulation of anchoring, mooring, and recreational boating in each MLCD, there are currently no administrative rules specifically prohibiting recreational boating use in MLCDs, although certain rules exist relating to the anchoring and mooring of a vessel at Molokini Shoal MLCD, Old Kona Airport MLCD, and Waiopae Tidepools MLCD; and

 

     WHEREAS, due to the highly fragile nature of the ocean ecosystems found in these conservation areas, ideally, only activities regulated by permit should be allowed within MLCDs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to adopt administrative rules prohibiting recreational boating activities in Marine Life Conservation Districts; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources, and Administrator of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Marine Life Conservation Districts; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Division of Aquatic Resources; Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation; Recreational Boating; Prohibition