STAND. COM. REP. NO.  45

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 488

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 488 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote economic development in Hawaii by establishing an Aquacultural Area Lease Program within the Department of Agriculture to identify state facilities, state lands, and state marine waters that are suitable for commercial aquaculture.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Food+ Policy Internship 2023.

 

     Your Committee finds that the aquaculture industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of Hawaii agriculture and has become an important source of seafood and other products for local sale and export.  Your Committee further finds that for the aquaculture sector in the State to flourish and reach its full potential, farmers need access to land, marine waters, and state facilities with long-term leases at affordable and predictable lease rental rates, which this measure would provide.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Placing the Aquacultural Area Lease Program under part IV, instead of part I, of chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 488, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 488, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair