STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2631

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2972

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2972 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to temporarily prohibit the:

(1) Taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around the island of Oahu; and

(2) Commercial sale of uhu and kala taken by spearing in state marine waters around the island of Oahu;

until the Holomua Marine Initiative of the Division of Aquatic Resources' process adopts applicable regulations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Friends of Hanauma Bay; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Na Kama Kai; Fish Pono - Save Our Reefs; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and twenty-four individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Native Hawaiian Gathering Rights Association and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committees find that populations of herbivorous reef fish species, which are essential to maintaining the health and resilience of state coral reefs, are declining especially around the waters of Oahu. While your Committees recognize that the Holomua Marine Initiative of the Division of Aquatic Resources works with community stakeholders to develop and establish grassroots plans and strategies for the stewardship of the State's nearshore ecosystems, the Division has not yet adopted regulations that would recover populations of herbivorous reef fish species that would sufficiently protect coral reefs from being smothered by seaweed. This measure will improve the health and resilience of state coral reefs in the near-term until the Division can adopt and implement regulations that further the prosperity of the reefs and the fish that support them.

Your Committees acknowledge the concerns raised in testimony that a ban on the commercial sale of uhu and kala would unfairly harm the livelihood of responsible commercial fisherman. Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting legislative findings;

(2) Deleting language that would have prohibited the commercial sale of uhu or kala that were caught by spearing;

(3) Inserting a blank sunset date; and

(4) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2972, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2972, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair