STAND. COM. REP. NO. 251

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 650

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 650 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AQUACULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study to identify potential sites on the island of Oahu for an aquaculture park that promotes commercial aquaculture expansion.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Kohala Mountain Fish Company, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the enduring success of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii on Hawaii island clearly demonstrates the benefits of the master-permitted aquaculture park concept in the State, and believes that it would be beneficial for the State to identify other possible sites for another potential aquaculture park operation. This measure requires the Department of Agriculture to conduct a feasibility study to identify potential sites in the State for an aquaculture park to promote commercial aquaculture expansion.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by expanding the feasibility study to include potential sites throughout the State, instead of just on the island of Oahu.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 650, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 650, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair