HB1988

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that coral reefs are immeasurably important to Hawaii's people, environment, and way of life. A study commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calculated the total economic value of Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems at $33,570,000,000.

The legislature also finds it necessary to take action to protect Hawaii's valuable reefs from the catastrophic effects of climate change, which are forecasted to cause the loss of seventy per cent of Hawaii's coral reefs over the next twenty‑five years. Herbivore fish are algae-eating fishes that protect coral reefs from harmful algal overgrowth due to climate change and other human-instigated causes. They are important fish for Hawaii's reefs and also for Hawaii's fishers, who rely on them as food for their families.

The legislature further finds that the commercial aquarium pet trade has taken millions of herbivores and other important fish from Hawaii's reefs for pet stores and hobbyist tanks across the continental United States and beyond, which has substantially reduced species diversity, abundance, and biomass. The aquarium pet trade has removed some herbivorous species by upwards of eighty per cent of their population in many areas, and despite the removal of collection pressure in late 2017, the most heavily collected species, the yellow tang, has failed to recover as biologically and historically expected, raising concerns about the current health of Hawaii's reefs and their long-term ability to continue to support food fishers and all others who rely upon them in myriad ways. Further, the cost of managing and enforcing the aquarium pet trade effectively exceeds the economic benefit of the industry to the state.

Prohibiting the commercial collection of reef wildlife for the aquarium pet trade is also consistent with other state laws, such as the 1988 prohibition on the taking of sand, rocks, soil, and other marine deposits and certain types of live rock and coral, all of which are necessary to protect the environment and preserve the State's natural resources held in the public trust for the benefit of all of Hawaii's peoples. The legislature recognizes that these obligations to protect the environment are enshrined in the Hawaii State Constitution, specifically in article XI, section 1, conservation, control, and development of resources; article XI, section 9, environmental rights; and article XII, section 7, traditional and customary rights.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the collection of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes, regardless of the method of collection, while allowing the following practices to continue:

(1) The issuance of special activity permits pursuant to section 187A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) The issuance of recreational permits for the non‑commercial capture of aquatic life for aquarium purposes, in accordance with existing laws and rules regarding compliance with environmental assessments; and

(3) Captive-breeding and aquaculture efforts, as regulated by section 187A-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 2. Chapter 189, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§189- Harvesting aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes; prohibition. (a) No person shall harvest aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes.

(b) This section shall not apply to the issuance of a license or permit for activities permitted under sections 187A‑3.5 and 187A-6; provided that the requirements of those sections are met.

"Aquarium purposes" means to hold saltwater fish, freshwater nongame fish, or other aquatic life alive in a state of captivity or display, or for sale for these purposes.

"Commercial" means to take aquatic life for profit or gain, or where the aquatic life is sold, offered for sale, possessed with intent to sell, bartered, landed, or transported for sale."

SECTION 3. Section 189-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§189-11 Receipts in duplicate. Every commercial marine dealer shall issue receipts to the person from whom marine life is obtained and shall provide the following information in the receipt:

(1) The date of the issuance;

(2) The name of the person to whom the receipt is issued;

(3) The following information with respect to each of the varieties of marine life as the department shall require including:

(A) The weight in pounds of each of the varieties received;

(B) The numbers of marine life when they average a pound or more; and

[~~(D)~~ ~~With regard to aquarium fish, regardless of weight, the number and species of the fishes; and~~]

(4) The signature of the dealer who issues the receipt.

Any dealer taking the dealer's own marine life or handling any marine life taken by commercial marine licensees working for or with the dealer, shall make out the same receipt, giving market price for the marine life as prevails on the date of receipt. A duplicate copy of this receipt shall be kept on file at the premise where the marine life was sold by the dealer issuing the same for a period of twelve months from the date of issuance, and the duplicate copy shall be available for inspection upon the demand of any conservation officer authorized to enforce the laws of the State."

SECTION 4. Section 188-31.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

["~~[§188-31.5] Aquarium fish for export; monthly count.~~ The department of land and natural resources shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to monitor the aquarium fish catch report and fish dealer's report for export of aquarium fish taken from the waters of the State for aquarium purposes pursuant to section 188-31. A monthly count of the quantities taken of each individual species of aquarium fish exported shall be reported to the board."]

SECTION 5. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the exercise of traditional and customary practices protected under article XII, section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, the lawful taking of fish for consumption or bait, or the lawful management or taking of aquatic life from fishponds.

SECTION 6. If there is any conflict with section 188-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, this Act shall supersede that section.

SECTION 7. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

SECTION 8. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1988
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII