STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 68

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DIVISION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES AND DIVISION OF CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH FEDERAL PARTNER AGENCIES TO PROTECT IMPORTANT STATE MARINE RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:

     (1)  The Division of Aquatic Resources to strengthen administrative rules governing the protection of indigenous marine wildlife, particularly spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles;

     (2)  The Division of Aquatic Resources and the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement to increase collaboration with federal partners on federal rules related to spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles; and

     (3)  The Division of Aquatic Resources and the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement to continue to explore additional mechanisms to access federal and private funding for the protection of marine mammals and sea turtles.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Humane Society of the United States – Hawaii, University of Hawaii Biology Alumni Association, Christ Hart & Partners Inc, and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources' administrative rules regarding marine indigenous wildlife, particularly spinner dolphins, marine mammals, and sea turtles, should be strengthened and updated to complement existing federal regulations.  Your Committee further finds that opportunities for greater collaboration with federal agencies and for federal and private funding should be explored to build upon existing initiatives and take advantage of available funding to improve the management of indigenous wildlife when state resources are limited.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 68, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair