STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2881

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 3167

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3167, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMPACT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the Governor to execute a compact on behalf of the State to cooperate in the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; and

 

     (2)  Establish procedures for selection and succession of commissioners.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission's mission closely aligns with the mission of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with the people of Hawaiʻi to manage, conserve, and restore the State's unique aquatic resources and ecosystems for present and future generations.  While the Commission has no regulatory or management authority, your Committee notes that it serves a number of vital functions including providing a forum for the discussion of interstate fisheries resources management issues, coordinating research and management projects related to interstate fisheries, and dispersing federal fishery funds.  This measure will facilitate improved management of state and regional marine fishery resources and allow the State to increase its collaboration with other Pacific Ocean states.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3167, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair