Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SCR229 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 229 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION requesting the department of land and natural resources to conduct a study on the marine life conservation district designations.
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3	3	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 229
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.C.R. NO.
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11	11	229
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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29	29	SENATE CONCURRENT
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31	31	RESOLUTION
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37	37	requesting the department of land and natural resources to conduct a study on the marine life conservation district designations.
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45	45	WHEREAS, the coastal waters of the islands comprising the State feature a number of different habitats, each with its own characteristic marine life; and WHEREAS, nearshore fishes have played an important role in the lifestyle for residents, either commercially as a food source or recreationally through snorkeling and diving; and WHEREAS, because reef and inshore fishing had greatly deteriorated in the State as a result of excessive taking of fish in coastal waters, Act 192, Session Laws of Hawaii 1955, was enacted to allow for the designation of marine life conservation districts; and WHEREAS, marine life conservation districts are designed to conserve and replenish marine resources by limiting fishing and other consumptive uses or prohibiting such uses entirely; and WHEREAS, under existing law, marine life conservation districts are established by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and WHEREAS, there are ten existing marine life conservation districts in the State as follows: Hanauma Bay, Oahu; Pūpūkea, Oahu; Waikīkī, Oahu; Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii; Lapakahi, Hawaii; Old Kona Airport, Hawaii; Waialea Bay, Hawaii; Honolua - Mokulēia, Maui; Molokini Shoal, Maui; and Mānele - Hulopoe, Lānai; and WHEREAS, the protections for the marine life conservation districts vary from district to district, and further assessment should be given to determine whether further protections should be conferred; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a study on the marine life conservation districts designations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to: (1) Assess whether the Marine Life Conservation District Program is achieving its objectives; and (2) Investigate the effectiveness of the criteria for designating marine life conservation districts compared to the International Union for Conservation of Nature protected area categories, especially for: (A) Areas within an existing marine life conservation district that may require additional protection; and (B) Areas not within an existing marine life conservation district that should be given the protections of such designation, including areas adjacent to existing marine life conservation districts that may be included by expansion; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: DLNR; Marine Life Conservation Districts; Study
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47	47	WHEREAS, the coastal waters of the islands comprising the State feature a number of different habitats, each with its own characteristic marine life; and
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51	51	WHEREAS, nearshore fishes have played an important role in the lifestyle for residents, either commercially as a food source or recreationally through snorkeling and diving; and
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55	55	WHEREAS, because reef and inshore fishing had greatly deteriorated in the State as a result of excessive taking of fish in coastal waters, Act 192, Session Laws of Hawaii 1955, was enacted to allow for the designation of marine life conservation districts; and
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59	59	WHEREAS, marine life conservation districts are designed to conserve and replenish marine resources by limiting fishing and other consumptive uses or prohibiting such uses entirely; and
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63	63	WHEREAS, under existing law, marine life conservation districts are established by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and
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67	67	WHEREAS, there are ten existing marine life conservation districts in the State as follows: Hanauma Bay, Oahu; Pūpūkea, Oahu; Waikīkī, Oahu; Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii; Lapakahi, Hawaii; Old Kona Airport, Hawaii; Waialea Bay, Hawaii; Honolua - Mokulēia, Maui; Molokini Shoal, Maui; and Mānele - Hulopoe, Lānai; and
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71	71	WHEREAS, the protections for the marine life conservation districts vary from district to district, and further assessment should be given to determine whether further protections should be conferred; now, therefore,
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75	75	BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a study on the marine life conservation districts designations; and
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79	79	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to:
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83	83	(1) Assess whether the Marine Life Conservation District Program is achieving its objectives; and
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87	87	(2) Investigate the effectiveness of the criteria for designating marine life conservation districts compared to the International Union for Conservation of Nature protected area categories, especially for:
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91	91	(A) Areas within an existing marine life conservation district that may require additional protection; and
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95	95	(B) Areas not within an existing marine life conservation district that should be given the protections of such designation, including areas adjacent to existing marine life conservation districts that may be included by expansion; and
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99	99	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and
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103	103	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
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111	111	OFFERED BY: _____________________________
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115	115	OFFERED BY:
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123	123	Report Title:
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125	125	DLNR; Marine Life Conservation Districts; Study