REPORT TITLE: 
Ocean Recreation


DESCRIPTION:
Imposes a two-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for
commercial marine mammal watching tours along the Waianae
coastline.  Requires a study.  (SD1)



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2753
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to protect marine
 
 2 mammals in waters off the Waianae coastline of Oahu, between
 
 3 Kaena Point and Ewa, by:
 
 4      (1)  Imposing a two-year moratorium on the issuance of new
 
 5           permits for commercial marine mammal watching tours;
 
 6           and
 
 7      (2)  Directing the department of land and natural resources
 
 8           to:
 
 9           (A)  Determine the maximum number of commercial marine
 
10                mammal watching tours that should be authorized to
 
11                operate in the future; and
 
12           (B)  Study the feasibility of issuing permits for
 
13                specific rather than unspecified ocean
 
14                recreational activities, including the feasibility
 
15                of thrill craft permits.
 
16      SECTION 2.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
 
17 upon the effective date of this Act, the chairperson of the board
 
18 of land and natural resources shall establish a moratorium on the
 
19 issuance of new commercial use permits to any person whose
 

 
Page 2                                                     2753
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1 operation includes conducting marine mammal watching tours in
 
 2 waters located along the Waianae coastline of Oahu between Kaena
 
 3 Point and Ewa.  Existing commercial use permits may be
 
 4 renewed; provided that not more than ten permits shall be
 
 5 outstanding at any given time.  The moratorium shall remain in
 
 6 force until June 30, 2002.
 
 7      SECTION 3.  The chairperson of the board of land and natural
 
 8 resources shall:
 
 9      (1)  Determine the maximum number of commercial use permits
 
10           to be issued for marine mammal watching tours in waters
 
11           along the Waianae coastline between Kaena Point and Ewa
 
12           based on a determination of the impact that such
 
13           activities may have on marine mammals in that region.
 
14           As part of this study, the department of land and
 
15           natural resources shall review existing and on-going
 
16           research about the effects that human activity may have
 
17           on marine mammals;
 
18      (2)  Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of issuing
 
19           commercial use permits for specific rather than
 
20           unspecified ocean recreational activities, including
 
21           the feasibility of thrill craft permits, along the
 
22           Waianae coastline; and
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     2753
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        

 
 1      (3)  Submit findings and recommendations to the legislature
 
 2           no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
 
 3           regular session of 2002.
 
 4      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.