STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 104

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 Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 104 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER EXPERTS TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE POPULATION STATUS OF DEPLETED CORAL REEF HERBIVORES AROUND THE ISLAND OF OAHU AND DEVELOP EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE POLICIES FOR SUBSTANTIALLY REPLENISHING THOSE POPULATIONS WITHIN A DECADE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other experts to conduct a study on the population status of depleted coral reef herbivores around the island of Oahu and develop effective alternative policies for substantially replenishing those populations within a decade.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Friends of Hanauma Bay, The Nature Conservancy, Restore the Commons, Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, Ocean Preservation Society, Miloliʻi Makai Watch, and twenty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that coral reefs are fundamental to the fabric of local communities, providing a source of food, materials, and traditional activities, in addition to ecological and economic benefits. The maintenance and recovery of coral reefs requires an abundant and diverse population of coral reef herbivores. The population of these fish around the island of Oahu is five percent below its potential. Your Committee recognizes the importance of herbivorous reef fish to the health of coral reef ecosystems and finds that a study on the population status of various herbivore fish species will help increase the population of these species around the island of Oahu.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.R. No. 104, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 104, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair