STAND. COM. REP. NO. 710-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1817

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1817 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROTECTING HAWAII'S FISHERIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules no later than June 30, 2027, to establish a statewide daily bag limit of ten ʻamaʻama (striped mullet) per person during the open season.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Native Hawaiian Gathering Rights Association; Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the population of native ʻamaʻama, has been in decline. Your Committee further finds that one of the most effective ways to help increase the population of ʻamaʻama is to establish a bag limit, which has already been successfully implemented in Hilo Bay. This measure proposes to establish a statewide bag limit.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the deadline by which the Board of Land and Natural Resources must adopt rules to June 30, 2030;

(2) Instead of statutorily establishing a statewide daily bag limit, authorizing the Board of Land and Natural Resources to establish the limit by rules;

(3) Specifying that the rules adopted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources under paragraph (2) shall apply only to areas without management plans as of the effective date of the rules;

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1817, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair