HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.18            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                                
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                     HOUSE RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL MARINE LIFE
   CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND FISHERY MANAGEMENT AREAS
   THROUGHOUT THE STATE.



 1       WHEREAS, nearshore fish and other marine life have played
 2   important roles in the lifestyles of Hawaii's people; and
 3   
 4       WHEREAS, throughout the years, Hawaii's residents have had
 5   high regard for these marine resources due to their
 6   recreational as well as subsistence value; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, many of these marine resources are also
 9   commercially valuable, some as food fish and others as aquarium
10   pets; and
11   
12       WHEREAS, in addition, marine resources provide a unique
13   attraction to Hawaii's visitors, especially to our growing eco-
14   tourism industry; and
15   
16       WHEREAS, Hawaii's recent history has shown that the State's
17   growing population can have an adverse effect on nearshore
18   marine life populations; and
19   
20       WHEREAS, for example, according to various reports and
21   fisheries surveys, it appears that coastal development and
22   overfishing have substantially decreased once abundant stocks
23   of popular nearshore fish; and
24   
25       WHEREAS, protecting this important resource for the
26   enjoyment of future generations is essential; and
27   
28       WHEREAS, ideally, management of this resource should
29   balance the needs of different user groups; nevertheless, the
30   welfare of the marine environment on which its inhabitants
31   depend must be the most important consideration; and
32   
33       WHEREAS, in order to better manage these marine resources,
34   the Department of Land and Natural Resources is authorized to
35   establish, manage, and regulate a variety of areas including
36   marine life conservation districts (MLCDs), shoreline fishery
37   management areas (FMAs), public fishing areas, artificial
38   reefs, areas around fish aggregating devices, and refuges; and

 
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                                  H.R. NO.18            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, the purpose of MLCDs is to protect marine life to
 2   the greatest extent possible; for this reason, the taking of
 3   any type of living material and non-living habitat material is
 4   generally restricted, if it is permitted at all; and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, MLCDs are marine parks that conserve and replenish
 7   marine resources by providing a protected area for fish and
 8   other marine life to grow and reproduce; and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, FMAs are another important resource management
11   tool intended to conserve marine resources through special
12   regulations; and 
13   
14       WHEREAS, for example, in the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline
15   Fisheries Management Area on Oahu, fishing with specific gear
16   is permitted only during even-numbered years; odd-numbered
17   years are closed to fishing; and
18   
19       WHEREAS, despite the existence of a handful of MLCDs and
20   FMAs in this State, more of these types of management areas are
21   urgently needed in order to assure the sustainable use of our
22   nearshore marine life for present and future generations of
23   fishers; now, therefore,
24   
25       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
26   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
27   of 1999, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is
28   encouraged to establish additional marine life conservation
29   districts and fishery management areas throughout the State;
30   and
31   
32       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
33   Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of
34   Land and Natural Resources.
35 
36 
37 
38                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________
 
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